WELCOME

Welcome to the Urban Culture course at Avila University created by Susan Lawlor and Dotty Hamilton.  We travel with our students to great cities to explore art museums, engage with the architecture, study the local film and music venues, and experience the ethnic enclaves as a way to learn about the culture of urban spaces and the interaction of art and environment.  It's a fun, intense learning environment.  

Friday, May 21, 2010

Jimmy Johnson at Buddy Guy's Legends


Our last night in Chicago. We were lucky that the amazing Jimmy Johnson was playing at Buddy Guy's Legends. Good food - jambalaya, smothered catfish, BBQ ribs - yummie - some of those healthly nursing students even ate SALAD. Good service - but most of all Great Music. This is a place that is about music - I was glad the students could see some authentic Chicago blues. I also learned that some of our students can play a mean game of pool. I knew Susan could - but who knew our ladies could play pool so well. This was an appropriate last night for any trip to Chicago. Here is a short sample of Jimmy Johnson - before the bouncer made me stop recording. I forgot that you can't tape live music shows - so go to Jimmy's website and download some tunes to hear more.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Architectural River Tour



The sun was out, the breeze was warm, the water was serene, the buildings were really really tall. Then the sun went in, but the buildings! Still really tall, still impressive, and within the skyscraper ilk, varied - post-modern, contextualist, art deco, echo deco, modernist, baroque. Flying buttresses! Corinthian columns! Granite, marble, steel, glass. A puttering river boat, goosebumps on one's knees. Overall a high point of the trip, because after all, what's not to like - 90 minutes - soft reflections off the water, a calm boat ride, and soaring vertical majesty.

Chicago Theatre Tour






Here's a look inside at the great Baliban and Katz motion picture palace - the Chicago Theatre. Beautiful building/ Here are a few architectural details

Millennium Park



Susan orchestrated a wonderful self guided tour of Millennium Park Thursday morning. What a beautiful day we had to walk in the park and play in the fountain. Here's a sample.

Hephaestus at The Goodman-Owen Theatre



Amazing, breathtaking - the circus theatrical performance created by the talented Tony Hernandez at the Goodman Theatre is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Hephaestus. The athleticism of the performers is truly astonishing. You can't take photos, of course, but here are some promotional images from the play.

The Contemporary and Puck's


I love the Contemporary.  We had a wonderful tour with Hayley, who raised interesting questions such as 'What is Art for - social commentary? Museum display? or pretty paintings on your wall?'  The content of the artwork we saw was about identity - gender, racial - and political commentary about politics, war and power.  
So after that heady stuff, we had lunch at Wolfgang Puck's  - a lovely space in a beautiful museum.   The tour and the lunch were sponsored by a generous Avila alum, Jeanne Olofson, who has the good taste to reside here in Chicago.
After that?  Free time:  shopping, Navy Pier, Hull House, and whatever else the students could think of...

View from Staircase at Museum of Contemporary Art


Snapped a shot of some members of the group going down the beautiful staircase at the Museum of Contemporary Art - at the bottom is a pond with beautiful goldfish.

Second City Improv

The famous comedy venue did not disappoint Tuesday night. No wonder so many famous comedians come out of this Chicago institution. Hilarious- they skewer everything from Chicago winters to contemporary political leaders and gender relationships. The students were laughing out loud the whole night. We had dinner at Corcoran's across the street beforehand - juicy pub burgers. Try the Angus with fresh avocado. After the comedy club several students made their way to Wrigleyville - an area of the city near Wrigley Field. Between the Cubs game and folks watching the Chicago hockey team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs - it was apparently a pretty lively place.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Chicago Cultural Center

Tour of Chicago Cultural Center - Amazing Building - Our tour guide, Joyce, is obviously passionabte about this building and Chicago. She was awesome - the building has the largest Tiffany stained glass dome in the world - it is breathtaking. The photos don't do it justice - go see it.


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Barrelhouse Chuck

Lunchtime concert at the Chicago Cultural Center - was Chicago Blues by Barrelhouse Chuck.  Here's a sample.

Chicago Art Institute

Didn't get into the new Modernism wing, but saw some classics...

Good morning!

Well it's our first full day in Chicago - it is the simple pleasures on a trip like this, like didn't that shower feel good.  We have a good hotel - perfect for this - Travelodge on Harrison.  It's sturdy and servicable.  The manager, Darren, is amazing and so organized.  There are no towel racks in the bathroom and that's confusing, but hey.  When you look at the window, you are looking at Chicago. 

Curious what the students felt about the train trip.  To me, it's seven hours of enforced relaxation.  Comfortable roomy seats, you can get up and walk around, plug in your ipod and sit in the Observation Car and Observe, dining car where the waiters wear white coats - it's a very civilized way to travel.  I think it's also the leanest carbon footprint way to go, if that's something you consider.

Today, where to eat breakfast...  A tour of the Modern Wing at the Chicago Art Institute.  Lunch and live blues at the Cultural Center.  Then (surely hopefully a quick nap before) dinner at Cocoran's and Second City improv club.  

Hopefully the students are developing new friendships and broadening their horizons, literally.
I for one am always happy to be in Chicago.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Gene Siskel Film Center

We saw an Iranian film - Women Without Men - directed by multimedia artist Shirin Neshat.  The film center always has challenging films that expose us to different aesthetic styles and the concerns of other cultures.  In this case - magical realism and the political woes of Iran abound with iisues of gender and identity.  Very complex.  Michael and Andre - the new Siskel and Ebert?

On The Road Again

May 17, 2010.  Union Station Kansas City to Chicago - 7 hours - 22 students - We've arrived.  

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

First Urban Culture to Chicago

A look back at the students on last year's trip - train traveling, Chess Records, the Chicago Cultural Center's Tiffany Dome, and Millennium Park.  Looks like fun?  Professors Lawlor and Hamilton are getting ready to take another eager group.