Navy Pier and Chicago Puppet Fests present:
My Night in the Planetarium is based on the award-winning book by Innosanto Nagara, a graphic artist and acclaimed author/illustrator of “A Is for Activist” and “Counting on Community.” Nagara tells his own true story of facing dictatorship and oppression in his childhood in Indonesia. It is a child’s view of a particular place and time—but it is also an introduction to Indonesia, a story about colonialism, and a message about the power of creativity.
With special support from: The Marshall Frankel Foundation and Cheryl Henson
Dates, Times and Locations:
Thursday, January 19 at 4:30pm
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4048 W. Armitage
Friday, January 20 at 4:30pm
Marshall Field’s Garden Apartments / Art on Sedgwick, 1408 N. Sedgwick St.
Saturday, January 21 at 12pm and 2pm
Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave.
Sunday, January 22 at 11am
ETA Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave.
Cost: FREE, no reservations required
Ages: All Ages
Running Time: 45 mins
ADA Accessible? All locations except for Art on Sedgwick
Little Uprisings uses a multi-faceted, creative approach that centers the beauty and power of Blackness to build long lasting, deep and sustainable relationships in order for change to take root, growing a practice that allows justice to take hold daily. My Night in the Planetarium is the culmination of a multi-year partnership between founder Tanya Nixon-Silberg and Puppet Showplace Theater that explored the power of puppetry to translate complex, difficult realities of colonialism, dictatorship, and dissent into kid-centered stories and scenes. littleuprisings.org
One of 40 organizations recently recognized for its contributions to the history, culture, vibrancy, and identity of communities of color in greater Chicago (see Chicago Cultural Treasures), Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (SRBCC) is the longest-standing Latinx cultural center in Chicago. Established in 1971, it was named in honor of Segundo Ruiz Belvis, a Puerto Rican patriot and member of a secret abolitionist society that freed slave children under Spanish rule. In that spirit, SRBCC realizes its mission to preserve and promote appreciation of the culture and arts of Puerto Rico and Latin America, with a focus on its African heritage. SRBCC realizes its program philosophy by developing multi-disciplinary programs, with a strong focus on the youth, that highlight the presence of African cultures in Puerto Rico and Latin America, celebrating these cultural traditions through dance, music, theater, and visual arts. segundoruizbelvis.org
Art on Sedgwick is dedicated to fostering creativity and connecting our community through the power of art. Through innovative arts classes and collaborative events, they teach creative reflection and expression, engage their diverse neighborhood, and help individuals and their community to connect with the best part of themselves. Their storefront art center enlivens the Sedgwick corridor and provides a creative, open environment for interaction between neighbors. Scholarship opportunities (available by application) make art classes available for all. Creating opportunities for more neighbors to participate in art increases the creative energy available to meet challenges facing our neighborhood and our world. artonsedgwick.org
Art of Sedgwick is situated within The Marshall Field Garden Apartments. The Marshall Field Garden Apartments is a large non-governmental subsidized housing project in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The project occupies two square city blocks and was the largest moderate-income housing development in the U.S. at the time of construction in 1929.
Navy Pier is the People’s Pier, Chicago’s lakefront treasure, welcoming all and offering dynamic and eclectic experiences through partnerships and programs that inspire discovery and wonder. Since its reopening in 1995, more than 180 million guests have come to enjoy the Pier’s 50 acres of unparalleled attractions and experiences. In 2021, Navy Pier continues to evolve into an accessible, year-round centerpiece for Chicago’s diverse arts and cultural treasures. navypier.org
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The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival advances the art of puppetry by presenting sophisticated programs vital to the cultural life of Chicago. Engaging and inspiring the largest and most diverse audiences for puppetry possible, the Festival is the biggest event dedicated to puppetry in North America and traditionally offers more than 100 activities annually including performances, workshops, artist instensives, free neighborhood events and symposia to audiences up to 14,000 over 11 days each January. The organization is also home to other key initiatives, including the Chicago Puppet Studio and Chicago Puppet Lab, that nurture the development of puppeteers and deepen the field locally, nationally and internationally with the ultimate goal of promoting peace, equality, mutual understanding, and justice locally and globally.
Fine Arts Building
410 S Michigan Ave, Studio 310
Chicago, IL 60605
Administrative Office:
312 753 3234
info@chicagopuppetfest.org
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