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 continues Friday, April 28, 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), Sonotheque (1444 W. Chicago), Skylark (2149 S. Halsted), Happy Dog (1542 N. Milwaukee), Elastic Arts (2830 N. Milwaukee), 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 XPO (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.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
DJs Flosstradamus and Logan Bay with video mixing by John Beasley, Paper Rad, E-Rock, Barkley’s Barnyard Critters. Sonotheque. a 8 PM. $10, $5 with flyer.
How to find space inside the cluttered urban grid. 31st and Morgan. a 1 to 4 PM.
Street Art Walking Tour
Presentation on ways artists and activists can plan for the future. Part of the Free University. a 4 PM.
SUNDAY 30