Shake Shook Shaken is a theater/movement workshop series produced by Julie Meckler. The series is designed for people to gently bring body awareness, allowing participants to open up, explore outside of their comfort zone, bond with each other, create and show. By playing with these concepts using our bodies, voices, words, and each other, we will explore our own awareness and sensitivity as artists and people. 

Shake Shook Shaken is a dream of what a safe space could allow. A vision of a place for everybody to gather, look at each other, play and create in a non judgmental, trauma-informed way. It’s an invitation, a journey within and out, a surprise. Each workshop is unique. This month we’ll have Emily Beisel and Julie leading on the topic of PRESENCE.

No prior dance or acting experience is necessary, just willingness to move and exhale. This workshop series is for anyone and everyone.

At this month’s Pleiades Series we’ll hear two solo sets from prolific Chicago artists. Experimental sound artist and musician Nicole Alonso is Mrs. Hands. Her work blends sampling, field recordings, electronic manipulation, and live performance to explore themes of space, memory, and identity.

Butt Mommy (Nat Strickland) uses performance art, noise, viola, found recordings, loops, synths, and field recordings to mirror the rich, darkly chaotic lives of the Filipino diaspora. They explore expressions of resistance, unity and escalation, veering back and forth between playfulness, grief, satire and rage.

After the solo sets we’ll have the classic open jam for all femme/trans/nonbinary artists. Bring an instrument, your body, your voice, and join in! Email pleiades@elasticarts.org to reserve a spot, or show up at the beginning of the night for sign-up.

Elastic director Adam Zanolini presents his ensemble celebrating the life and work of AACM artists; a new trio lead by Jake Wark kicks off the evening.

At this third edition of PPP we have Zaira Castillo, Angelo Hart, Paul Giallorenzo w/ Jeff Milam, Angelo Hart, Josh Harlow, and hosted by the one and only Sharon Udoh. Sharon will perform a short set with pianist Mabel Kwan (on synthesizer!) to open the night!

In conjunction with Experimental Sound Studio and the CLEAT Series we continue our series of artist-led introduction workshops exploring spatial audio.

The workshops are approximately 2 hours and will begin with a demonstration and discussion of each individual artist’s approach to multichannel sound. In the second half of the workshops, participants will have an opportunity to experiment with multichannel sound techniques on the 16-channel CLEAT system installed at Elastic.

No prior experience with multichannel sound necessary! You will need to bring your own laptop to actively participate in the second half of each workshop, however you are also welcome to simply listen and observe without a laptop.

Join us for a late spring afternoon of crafts and zines! In conjunction with the current exhibition of Serena Hocharoen's TV FOR A BUG at Elastic Arts, we're excited to announce an indie zine + craft fair as our closing celebration. Along with the craft fair, Hocharoen will be inviting people to contribute to the online World of Text live. There will also be a communal craft table for people to make zines and crafts together. 

This night at Elastic is a collaborative event focusing on total electronic immersion. Using the 16-channel CLEAT system, QTC and D BARS will DJ Minimalist Techno Vinyl Face 2 Face as their outputs get live mixed on the CLEAT. They will be joined by instrumentalists D Jean-Baptiste, Seth Andrew Bearman, and Chaepter. Closing the night will be a set from DJ Madeline

Two duo acts forefronting improvised approaches to avant-rock and electronic music, with special visiting (returning) guest Dave McDonnell.

In conjunction with Experimental Sound Studio and the CLEAT Series we continue our series of artist-led introduction workshops exploring spatial audio.

The workshops are approximately 2 hours and will begin with a demonstration and discussion of each individual artist’s approach to multichannel sound. In the second half of the workshops, participants will have an opportunity to experiment with multichannel sound techniques on the 16-channel CLEAT system installed at Elastic.

No prior experience with multichannel sound necessary! You will need to bring your own laptop to actively participate in the second half of each workshop, however you are also welcome to simply listen and observe without a laptop.

Join us for The Ooze, a night of dance curated by J e l l o curator Mya McClellan! Witness talented artists sharing their unique solo works, then dive into guided improvisation led by Mya. We’re thrilled to have Drew Lewis DJ again.

Scott Rubin’s Digital Hands presents the imaginary exploration of a solo masked performer traversing questions of identity, meditation, and control through use of a camera-instrument.

The Dysnomia duo (James Ilgenfritz and Teerath Majumder) emerged from a need to critique received notions about machine learning, intellectual labor, and conceptual autonomy. Using a 5-string contrabass in a just intonation scordatura together with transducers and machine learning, the duo explores sound through the lens of trans-humanism, investigating the agency of the interface itself.

$15 / $10 w/ Student ID - Tickets Available at the Door

In conjunction with Experimental Sound Studio and the CLEAT Series we continue our series of artist-led introduction workshops exploring spatial audio.

The workshops are approximately 2 hours and will begin with a demonstration and discussion of each individual artist’s approach to multichannel sound. In the second half of the workshops, participants will have an opportunity to experiment with multichannel sound techniques on the 16-channel CLEAT system installed at Elastic.

No prior experience with multichannel sound necessary! You will need to bring your own laptop to actively participate in the second half of each workshop, however you are also welcome to simply listen and observe without a laptop.

HEAVENSWARE is an audio//visual experience in Logan Square, Chicago, featuring the best in live hardware music.

Tone Glow and Employees Only are excited to present “Grin and Bear It: Cinema of the Dark Clown,” a multimedia event centered on the figure of the dark clown in experimental moving image. The festivities will take place on Friday, May 16th at 7PM and will be broken into three programs: 1) an analog film showcase of iconic works from Jack Smith and Luther Price, 2) videos highlighting the dark comedy of Hester Scheurwater, Ximena Cuevas, Anne McGuire, and Paul & Marlene Kos, and 3) a series of lyrical 16mm films from Jean Sousa, Donna Cameron, and Fred Worden. The evening will also include two live clowning and puppetry performances from local artist Justin D’Acci. Throughout the event, the clown is found in conceptual, queer, and feminine forms, in criminality and pranksterism, in metaphorical explorations of the circus’ beauties and sorrows.

Guitarist extraordinaire Luke Polipnick brings a new quartet. Mark Nagy performs with his interdisciplinary ensemble.

Portland artist Carl Diehl presents the Chicago premiere of Painless Magic, his 65 minute documentary that chronicles the histories of his grand-uncle — the late, great Chicago magician, vaudevillian, and comedy emcee, Werner “Dorny” Dornfield (1892 -1982). This kaleidoscopic account of curiosity, camaraderie, and creativity shimmers with ephemera from the Golden Age of stage magic and beyond, and intrigues with anecdotes from magicians, historians, & Dorny’s oldest surviving relatives.  

In conjunction with Experimental Sound Studio and the CLEAT Series we continue our series of artist-led introduction workshops exploring spatial audio.

The workshops are approximately 2 hours and will begin with a demonstration and discussion of each individual artist’s approach to multichannel sound. In the second half of the workshops, participants will have an opportunity to experiment with multichannel sound techniques on the 16-channel CLEAT system installed at Elastic.

No prior experience with multichannel sound necessary! You will need to bring your own laptop to actively participate in the second half of each workshop, however you are also welcome to simply listen and observe without a laptop.

We’re excited to host our 7th Annual Elastic Arts Benefit on May 10th, 2025! Elastic hosts hundreds of events, presenting more than 1,000 artists every year. We keep prices low, and we don't sell alcohol. Ticket sales aren't enough to support all this energy! Elastic Arts needs our community’s support to remain a sustainable space for creative music, art, and performance. Our annual Benefit highlights the things that make Elastic Arts such a vibrant place: boundary-defying performances and art, a rich variety of creative expressions, and a deep sense of commitment among a very diverse community. But most of all, it's a celebration of togetherness and creative achievement. Our community is invited to our Logan Square space for the celebration, but we welcome anyone and everyone to join us virtually as we'll be streaming the benefit in entirety live through the streaming page on our website.

The 2024 Elastic Achievement Award will be presented to the legend and dear friend Tatsu Aoki. This year we'll experience a live set from Tatsu’s legendary ensemble MIYUMI Project!

More info TBA, but early bird tickets on sale starting Monday March 10th! There will be food, drinks, performances, silent auction, unique art installations, and more. Come have fun with us and support our organization in its 27th year of programming!

At this month’s CLEAT Series we welcome three of Elastic’s favorite humans and artists. Potliquor is Sharon Udoh and Allen Moore. Sharon improvises with piano and voice while Allen takes a microphone signals from Sharon to sculpt a lush multichannel experience. Fully improvised, though completely dialed in.

Improvised Music Series curator Ishmael Ali will present solo cello and electronics piece in 4 voices. This project explores the relationship between acoustic and electronic sounds using interplay between cello, sp404 sampler, a synth voice, and radio automated through CLEAT's 16 channel system.An audience interactive patch will also be debuted that will tie into Ishmael's workshop on May 13.

Michael Sarian’s ESQUINA presents a fresh take on classic fusion sounds — catch them on the one Chicago stop of their tour! Flesh of Fruit opens, presenting a unique blend jazz and turntablism fresh off their debut record release.

Our friends at Asian Improv aRts Midwest once again bring their AIRMW Arts Initiative to Elastic Arts for a special performance from the woodwind trio Hunsinger/Jackson/Sugimoto. Join us!

In celebration of the Healing from Racism Through the Arts Series, we are thrilled to offer this unique experience! Winner of Chicago Reader's "Best of 2023" for Best World Music Group, Funkadesi has been wowing crowds with their unique blend of Bollywood, Reggae, Bhangra, Funk and Afro-Caribbean rhythms for over 28 years.  For this unique program, Funkadesi will perform a semi-unplugged concert. There will also be a special guest opening performance by series facilitators artists PHENOM & Sonal Aggarwal as well as other guests.  

Held in an intimate setting with limited capacity, the band is inviting the audience into a community drum circle, and opportunity for optional reflections on the Feb - April workshop series from those who have participated.  

Thanks to a generous #HealingIllinois grant, this concert is free for any of the Feb-April  workshop participants, and $10-15 for the general public.

At our May Elastro series we’ll have a duo performance from AJ McClenon and Regina Martinez alongside a solo set from P.M. Tummala. Following these sets the three will get togehter for a trio improvisation to close out the night. Music at 8pm!

Erica Miller (they/she) is a cellist, improviser, composer, producer, and visual artist; Jack Langdon is a musician with concentrations in experimental music, minimalist documentary, and cultural politics; Jeff Kimmel is a clarinetist whose work encompasses improvisation and new and experimental music. The three artists will perform an improvised trio set.

Muscular Calves is Oui Ennui (synths), Emma Hospelhorn (flutes), Jordan Knecht (percussion), and Scott Meyers (guitar).

8:30 Erica Miller / Jack Langdon / Jeff Kimmel

9:30 Muscular Calves

$15 / $10 w/ Student ID - Tickets Available at the Door

Join us as we welcome cellist, composer, and educator Carolina Borja-Marroquin. Opening the evening will be a solo piano/voice performance from the amazing Paige Brown.

AIRMW presents: Syzygia (Jeff Chan, Robbie Lynn Hunsinger, Jamie Kempkers, Michael Perkins)

Slicing through time with a whittled knife.

Born not out of nostalgia, but out of a collection of dreams, collaged and pasted together over time: we are pleased to announce the opening reception of Serena Hocharoen’s solo exhibition at Elastic Arts, TV FOR A BUG. 

Exploring the meaning of networks and the synthesis of collecting, the exhibition presents new and old works by the Chicago-based multi-disciplinary artist. As suggested by the title of the exhibition, their works play with scale and perspective, and call upon a new way of experiencing the mundane. Interested in the feeling of being underground, the visual gallery will be home to new leaf structures and video works presented through a 1-inch screen.

The opening reception for Serena Hocharoen’s TV FOR A BUG, is on Friday, April 25th, 2025, from 6-9pm at Elastic Arts, 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL 60647.

We welcome improvising saxophonist Danny Kamins based out of Houston, TX with a trio comprising him, Jason Wayne Sneed, and Jerome Bryerton along with a new exciting duo of Sarah Clausen and Caroline Jesalva.

A special 4/20 evening of experimental sound and visuals! We are thrilled to feature Spectralina in the series for the first time. Pleiades curator Emily Beisel will also be closing out a two-week spring tour in a special set with videocollective Color Swim—join us for this homecoming performance and an open jam session.