Lumpen and Public Media Institute produce this annual festival, now in its fifth year, focusing on radical art, media, technology, and politics, with an emphasis on work generated by underground and activist communities. This year’s festival runs from Friday, April 21, through Sunday, May 7, in Bridgeport and scattered other locations and includes neighborhood tours, workshops, numerous public art installations and interventions, barbecues, film/video screenings, music, and performances. The Free University series includes workshops, presentations, demos, and lectures. All events are at the Version Kunsthalle–aka Iron Studios, 3636 S. Iron, first and fourth floors–unless otherwise noted. Participating venues include the Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia), Holy Covenant Methodist Church (925 W. Diversey), Bernice and John’s Place (3238 S. Halsted), Kaplan’s Liquors (aka Maria’s, 960 W. 31st), Red-I (2201 S. Wentworth), Heaven Gallery (1550 N. Milwaukee), South Union Arts (1352 S. Union), Butler Field (in Grant Park at Lake Shore Drive and Monroe), Skylark (2149 S. Halsted), and McCormick Tribune Student Center (33rd and State). Events are free, unless otherwise noted. An Event Pass allows admission to all screenings and events ($25); a Version Pass includes all that plus meals, the Select 10 DVD, Lumptronic 7 CD, Version posters, Select 9 Agit Prop Poster magazine, and assorted stickers and festival ephemera ($50). The festival also includes the NFO Expo (April 29 and April 30), a series of talks, workshops, and exhibits presented science-fair-style and intended to “facilitate straightforward exchanges about what’s going on locally in various communities, from disparate neighborhoods in Chicago to others from around the world.” Below is a schedule of selected festival events. For updates and additional information, visit www.versionfest.org or call 773-837-0145.
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The Flocking Party
Urban Gardening and Exterior Decorating Opening
A fashion show and installation exhibiting DIY art-trash garments collected from Fair Trade workers in India and redesigned by local artists. a 8 PM.
SUNDAY 23
Clothing Change Exchange
