Virtual Conversation

Thursday, February 17, 7–8:30pm

“It’s the satire that kills the serpent, you know…”: Robert Colescott and the Art of Racial Irony will be a virtual conversation with Richard J. Powell of Duke University, Jefferson Pinder of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Tina Post of the University of Chicago. ASL interpretation will be provided.

"Known for his imaginative paintings that exposed society’s failures and shortcomings in matters of race and sex, Robert Colescott (1925-2009) broke new ground in contemporary art through his colorful, humorous, and often stinging visual satires. From the vantage points of a performance artist, an art historian, and a scholar of literature, theater, and performance studies, a panel of discussants will reflect on Colescott’s brilliant, provocative art, especially in the context of performativity, artistic subversions of racial stereotypes, and Black cultural “satiracy.""

All Colescott Works © 2022 The Robert H. Colescott Separate Property Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Colescott Night: comedy and performances curated and hosted by Melissa DuPrey

Monday, December 13, 6-9:30pm

Main program in Preston Bradley Hall featuring Taneshia “Just Nesh” Rice, Calvin Evans and Windy Indie (7–8:30pm)

DJ sets by Sadie Woods in the Exhibit Hall (6–7pm and 8:30–9:30pm)

A screening of Colescott’s Dulacrow’s Masterpiece mockumentary (6–7pm) in Preston Bradley Hall

Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott exhibition open 10am-9:30pm

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Artist bios

Melissa DuPrey (Colescott Night curator and emcee) is a multidisciplinary artist with roots from Chicago’s Humboldt Park. She is a critically-acclaimed solo artist whose work spans over a decade, highlighting the intersections of Blackness, queerness, healing, and sexuality. She has performed stand-up comedy in Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Her stage appearances include work with Court Theater, Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf, Sideshow Theater (as Artistic Associate), UrbanTheater Company (as Ensemble Member) and Oracle Theater. She can currently be seen as Dr. Sara Ortiz on Grey's Anatomy and has been on the cast of Empire, The Resident, Chicago PD, and The Chi.

Taneshia "Just Nesh" Rice is a quickly rising standup comedian from Chicago with her boundless energy and easily relatable nature making her a hit for audiences across the country. Nesh's first big break came in 2016 when she was selected to be a part of the first season of Comedy Central's Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City -- her set was so well received that Hart and Comedy Central quickly offered her own half-hour special, The Next Level. In 2018 Nesh appeared in Russell Simmons' stand-up showcase All Def Comedy, alongside comedy heavyweights DeRay Davis, Deon Cole, and more. Nesh has also made appearances on Laff Tracks and, most recently, on Mo'Nique & Friends comedy special.

After beginning his comedy life in college, Chicago native Calvin Evans' returned home and was named Chicago’s Next Big Comic. He received a Puma Scholarship to attend The Second City Training Center, and upon completing their Improv Conservatory program, was awarded a Bob Curry Fellowship. With stand-up as his focus, Calvin traveled the country performing at colleges and clubs. In 2017 he was recognized as a New Face at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. In 2018 he was a finalist in the nationwide NBC Standup competition. His television credits include APB, Chicago PD, Sherman’s Showcase and Shameless, and in a recurring role on the hit show Southside. Calvin has performed stand-up on Kevin Hart’s Hart of The City, LOL @ JFL, Laff Tracks, Bring the Funny and Conan, and his half hour Unprotected Sets special released in 2020 on EPIX.

A classically trained violinist hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Windy Indie is an artist aspiring to bridge the gap between music and education. Through her work—which is a soulful blend of Hip-Hop, Pop, Classical, and Folk music—she articulates her vision with a sharp musicality, composing fresh ideas to all demographics to widen their range of sound. Coming from a family of educators, Windy Indie is also a teaching artist in schools and youth programs across Chicago. Windy Indie has performed performing at the Chicago Blues Festival, the House of Blues and at a plethora of private venues and shows, and has had multiple TV appearances on Empire. With dreams of opening a music school and ideals helmed in philanthropy, Windy Indie strives to connect with people on a universal scale.

Sadie Woods is an award winning post-disciplinary artist, independent curator, and deejay. Her work focuses primarily on social movements, liberatory practices, cultural memory, and producing collaborations within communities of difference. She also deejays under the moniker Afrodjia, focusing on diasporic music and culture of the Americas and the Global South. Sadie has participated in national and international artist and curatorial residencies, publishing projects and performances. She received her BA from Columbia College and MFA from The School of the Art Institute. Sadie is a 2020 recipient of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Esteemed Artist Award, is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of The Petty Biennial, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Selenite Arts Advisory, Faculty at the School of the Art Institute, and Resident Deejay at Lumpen Radio 105.5FM (CHI), Vocalo 91.5FM (CHI) and Wave Farm 90.7FM (Acra, NY).

Exhibition Catalog