ART LOOK OUTSIDE
Chicago is a veritable outdoor gallery in the summer. Don't miss any of the latest additions to the city's public art offerings. By Zach Long
THE XX MARKS
ON ITS NEW album I See You, notoriously awkward British band the xx sound more comfortable than ever before, melding slow-burning intimacy with club-ready
beats. Ahead of the group’s headlining set on August 5 at Lollapalooza, we caught up with Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith.
The xx has always had pop influences, but now everyone is blending genres unapologetically. Do you feel liberated?
Oliver Sim: “I definitely don’t feel embarrassed to
show a love for pop. When Romy came back from her L.A. pop-factory trips, some of the stories made me a bit sad, like hearing such clinical rules about how it’s 45 seconds maximum to come back to a chorus or having to keep things visual. All these rules really fascinated me.”
Your new album, I See You, feels less tense, more open. What’s changed within the group? Romy Madley Croft: “We dissect each other’s writing now and make it flow together. It could only come with time and confidence. Even now it still feels quite vulnerable to sit and say, ‘This is what I’m thinking,’ or to sing out loud a gibberish melody.”
How do you feel about artists taking a stand
regarding the times we live in right now, using their platform?
Jamie Smith: “I always got quite annoyed by any music that had a sort of underlying theme or message to get across. But I think it’s very important, more
important than ever in our lifetimes, that people don’t just ignore what’s going on. It’s been great to see that the fire has been lit under so many people.” Eve Barlow
Time Out Chicago June 7–September 5, 2017
Looking Up THE SKINNY: Situated near the
Lakefront Trail (4800 S Lake Shore Dr) just north of Hyde Park, you’ll find Tom Friedman’s 33-foot-tall stainless steel man Looking Up at the sky. FUN FACT: Friedman created the mold for the sculpture with crushed aluminum foil, roasting pans and baking tins. DO THIS AFTER: Find even more creative works at Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S Cornell Ave), a nonprofit organization that offers art classes and exhibitions.
Chakaia Booker sculptures THE SKINNY: Old tires become captivating
art in the hands of New York artist Chakaia Booker, who recycles the discarded rubber into geometric sculptures, six of which are on display at the outdoor Boeing Galleries in Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St). FUN FACT: Booker learned how to cut and stitch materials when she began making her own clothes as a teenager. DO THIS AFTER: Get a bird’s-eye view of Millennium Park while enjoying a drink at Cindy’s rooftop in the Chicago Athletic Association (12 S Michigan Ave).
Conagra Mural (Urbs in Horto) THE SKINNY: On the wall of a building facing
Park No. 567 (1801 N Milwaukee Ave), Jeff 16
PHOTOGRAPHS (SPREAD): TOP LEFT: TAWNI BANNISTER; TOP CENTER, TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM RIGHT, BOTTOM CENTER: NEAL O'BRYAN
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