All Events

Sunday, October 29 5:30pm at Chinese Mutual Aid Association 1016 W. Argyle Street FREE Join us for a discussion moderated by Patricia Nguyen with her father, Vietnamese activist and refugee, Tam Nguyen; staff and clients from Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA); and artists from DON'T LOOK BACK/MUST LOOK BACK. Learn more about the refugee experience in Uptown, the work of CMAA well as the process of creating the performance. Reservations are not required but note that parking is difficult on Sundays near Argyle Street, we encourage you to take public transportation, taxi or come early. The discussion will end around 6:15pm with the performance beginning at 730pm so note there will be time to eat dinner along Argyle Street between the discussion and show. For tickets to the performance visit: TICKETS. Patricia Nguyen (Associate Director) is an artist, educator, and scholar from Chicago and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Performance Studies at Northwestern University. Her research and performance work examines critical refugee studies, political economy, inherited trauma, and state violence in the United States and Vietnam. Patricia has over 15 years experience working in arts education, community development, and human rights. As a performance artist, she has performed at international festivals and museums including the Prague Quadrennial, Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. She is co-founder and executive director of Axis Lab, a community centered art, food and design studio based in Uptown that focuses on equitable development for the Southeast Asian Community. Photo above by Michael Brosilow includes actress, Sarah Lo, from our production of DON'T LOOK BACK/MUST LOOK BACK along with a projection image by photojournalist, James Bowey's exhibition, WHEN HOME WON'T LET YOU STAY.

  Wednesday, April 19, 7:30pm Uncommon Ground 1401 W Devon Ave $12 Hosted by Adrian Danzig, co-founder of 500 Clown. Artists and curators address how the current political climate is impacting their work. Evening of unique performances including the Lit Trio 80 FOOTS PER MINUTE and Jenny Magnus of Curious Theater Branch. Interviews with top multidisciplinary performance curators Shoni Currier, Director of Performance at DCASE, Jordan Martins of Logan Square's Comfort Station, and Steven Wang, Executive Director of High Concept Labs. Plus... the Pivot DIY with Neo-Futurist Alum, Rachel Claff! Click here for tickets!

February 21 at 7:30pm The Hopleaf 5148 N. Clark Street

January 23 | 7:30pm

Live Talk: The Sadness Show February 15 at 7:30pm Uncommon Ground 1401 W. Devon CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS Pivot Arts' monthly LIVE TALK show is part performance, part live talk show. This unique evening includes quirky performances, interviews, live music and the very special, Pivot DIY. On February 15th the show will feature our annual celebration of of despair and despondency including a Sad Story Contest, Sad Karaoke and more! A dismally good time. The Feb. 15th Sadness Show will be hosted by performer Karen Rodriguez. Sad Story Contestants including reigning champions, playwrights Bonnie Metzgar and Tanya Palmer, as well as performers Sandra Delgado and Theo Allyn reading from their own sad tales. William Von Vogt will perform a story by the tragically hip, Philip Dawkins. Actress, Carolyn Hoedermann, performs the Pivot DIY, a quick demo on how to cry on cue. Playwright Brett Neveu leads the Sad Karaoke. Live Talk is a fun and engaging evening meant to bring us together around the arts and meaningful discussions. Plus there's food and drink for purchase at Uncommon Ground!

        Live Talk: Too Big to Fail March 22, 2018 at 7:30pm Uncommon Ground – Devon 1401 W. Devon Avenue $12 with food + drink for purchase BUY TICKETS Live Talk show is an entertaining mash-up of short performances, engaging discussion, plus food + drink for purchase. On Thursday, March 22 join us at Uncommon Ground on Devon for LIVE TALK: TOO BIG TO FAIL, an evening about big hopes, dreams and ambitions hosted by Nico Carter (Cards Against Humanity). Line-up featuring: Kurt Chiang and Lily Mooney (Neo-Futurist Ensemble Members) present The Arrow; short puppet works by Mike Oleon (Rough House Theater); stories told by writers Theo Allyn and Tanya Palmer; music with Karen Salmon and Christopher Elam. Playwright Derek McPhatter leads the “Pivot DIY,” a fun audience engagement activity. This is our final Live Talk show of the season, not to be missed!! Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3362029

March 21 | 7:30pm

Live Talk: We're Still Here! January 17, 2018 at 730pm Uncommon Ground 1401 W. Devon $10 Click for Tickets Our Live Talk show is back!! An entertaining mash-up of short performances, engaging discussion, plus food + drink for purchase. On January 17 we celebrate resiliency the week of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and the one year anniversary of the inauguration of Donald Trump. Come laugh with our host, LAUREN WALKER of Second City plus performances by PREACH Improv; Poet/Performer Nikki Patin with musician, Marta Cook; storyteller Lily Be; performer Quenna Barrett leads the Pivot DIY and music duo Emmy Bean and Stacy Erenberg will blow you away with their soulful tunes. Panel Discussion on Art and Resiliency moderated by January Parkos Anall (Curator of Public Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art) with David Feiner (Albany Park Theater Project), Brett Swinney (Curator/Producer) and Jireh L. Drake (Artist/Activist). Reserve Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3224255

In partnership with the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce's Edgewater Night Out and Ald. Harry Osterman's Safe Summer Nights, Pivot Arts presents Los Hombres Perdidos, a Latin music band, on Friday, July 28 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in front of Mas Alla del Sol and Ras Dashen 5848 - 46 N. Broadway Street. This event is FREE and open to the public, come out and hear some amazing Latin music and eat and drink at some of Edgewater's best restaurants. Los Hombres Perdidos is the brainchild of guitarist Colin Bunn (Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, Mike Reed's Treehouse Project) who has enlisted some of Chicago's indie rock royalty to perform traditional and original Latin music with a modern zing. The music is inspired by Latin music traditions that span the Americas - Mexican descargas flavored with Cuban songs with a side of Spaghetti Westerns. Note that this is a free, outdoor event that takes place in front of the restaurants. Seating is limited and you are welcome to bring a chair or stay on your feet dancing.

Pivot Arts presents Evergreen A Site-Specific Dance + Meditation with Jessica Marasa and Bassist, Katie Ernst Friday, August 11 5:30pm to 7:30pm Peterson Garden Project 6300 N. Broadway FREE Evergreen starts as a guided walk/meditation through Peterson Garden, a city garden project in Chicago's Edgewater community. The evening culminates in a dance with the gifted, Jessica Marasa, with Katie Ernst playing bass. Inspired by the Evergreen, a tree that does not shed its leaves, Marasa and Ernst use their improvisational technique embodying continuity and a willingness to trust each moment as it arises, remains, and passes. Evergreen is presented as part of the Edgewater Night Out Series, sponsored by the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and Alderman Osterman. This evening is also supported by Lickity Split Custard + Sweets. Free custard will be available for children.

An Earth Day Performance Celebration Saturday, April 27

November 30