Watch the new video documentary "200 Lincolns"

200 Lincolns Art Exhibit Presented by The Chicago Art Department
Featuring the artwork of 200 Chicago Artists
A Documentary by JaGoFF

This is the video from the "200 Lincolns" exhibit that JaGoFF took part in at The Chicago Art Department last month. With all of the planning that we had to do for the Promoters' Ordinance panel disussion for last week's event at Old Town School, we kind of fell behind on the editing for the art exhibit documentary video. Nonetheless, here it is. The video covers both the set-up party and opening night festivities. JaGoFF had two pieces in the exhibit, which you can view here. We also posted the photos of the evening which you are free to view. Enjoy.

Documented here are:
(00:00 - 12:32) CAD: Art Drop off/Set-up party on Feb 6th
(12:33 - 31:46) CAD: Opening Night Reception/Art Exhibit on Feb 13th

Background Story:
In comemmoration of Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial Birthday, the Chicago Art Department invited the creative community to submit 200 pieces of Lincoln inspired work. The walls, floor and ceilings of CAD were dripping with Abe and an Abe in every medium: skateboard art, video installments, commemorative stamps, modified dunnies, a crucified Abe, a recreated Mutoscope (circa 1895) and even an Abe of the edible variety.

This documentary includes several artist interviews and overall set-up and party footage. Many thanks to everyone who participated. The night was amazing.

Special thanks to the amazing folks at:
The Chicago Art Department
ChicagoArtDepartment.org

Produced and directed by JaGoFF (Sir Real & Mofo)
Filmed live in Chicago by Sir Real.
Edited by Mofo.«

Chicago Promoters' Ordinance: An Open Panel Discussion (Video)

On Dec., 20th, 2008, JaGoFF was invited to screen their documentary "Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music" at the Chicago Art Department. Following the screening was held Q&A panel discussion in regard to the proposed ordinance, it's implications and current state.

All those in attendence represented many various disciplines in Chicago's Independent art community, and it was wonderful to see all of us coming together under one common cause. If you have not seen the documentary, you can find it here. If you have already seen it, enjoy the panel discussion. As with the documentary, it is licensed under the Creative Commons, so please fell free to download it, burn it and share it. We need all of the help that we can get.

Featured panel speakers:
Henry H. Perritt, Jr. - Law Professor & Former Dean Chicago-Kent College of Law
Sir Real (JaGoFF) - Film Producer
Mofo (JaGoFF) - Film Producer
and Chicago's independent arts community.

Presented by JaGoFF & TheRecordIndustry.com.

For more background information on this backward ordinance visit TheRecordIndustry.com
or let your voice be heard by visiting: 4theMusic.org

Special thanks to Chicago Art Department, 3pHaZe, Fearless Radio and to all of those in the community who are doing something about this mess. Licensed under the Creative Commons.

Nothing short of delicious ...

An evening of wine, music, film and politics ...




We would like to thank all who attended the documentary screening on Saturday. The evening was pure electricity! Despite the snow, 30 mile per hour winds and sub-zero temperatures, the night went off without a hitch. We were thrilled by everyone's participation during the open panel discussion. There was certainly no lack of questions. This is just the start and gives us much to build on. We expect to do a few more of these in the beginning of the new year.







For those of you who were snowed in, had frozen fuel lines or were otherwise not willing to deal with Old Man Winter, we will be posting the video/podcast of the panel after the holiday madness. If you went away empty-handed (we ran out of DVDs) we apologize, there were a bit more people than copies... no worries, you can download and/or embed it here.





Special thanks (in no particular order) to: The Chicago Art Department, Hank Perritt, 3pHaze, Fearless Radio, Jim DeRogatis, WBEZ's "Radio M", TheRecordIndustry.com and all of you Bloggers, MySpacers, Yelpers. Facebookers for helping in one form or another. We greatly appreciate it.



Thanks to YOB for the panel discussion photo!

We look forward to seeing you out in the new year.

Oh yeah... if you haven't yet, for your new year resolution, you may want to do this.

Jim DeRogatis covers the Promoters' Ordinance Documentary Screening

The Chicago Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis wrote a great piece on the screening of our promoters' ordinance documentary calling it, "A far more radical (and entertaining) view". Beautiful. Thanks Jim.

We look forward to seeing you all out. The doors open at 6:30. Film starts at 7:30 with discussion panel to follow (featuring Henry H. Perritt, Jr. and TheRecordIndustry.com ). The weather looks like it is going to be a bit hairy - but expect tonight's event to be nothing short of delicious.

Premiere Film Screening: "Chicago Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music" and Panel Discussion @ The Chicago Art Department - Dec. 20th / 6:30PM

JaGoFF is absolutely THRILLED to announce that we have teamed-up with The Chicago Art Department for the WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING of our documentary "Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music", Saturday, Decemember 20th, from 6:30 - 10PM. After the movie, we will be holding a panel discussion fielding the questions and concerns of the community. TheRecordIndustry.com will be taking part, as will be the former dean & professor of law of Chicago Kent College of Law, Henry H. Perritt, Jr. Henry has been a very strong advocate concerning the rights of the independent artist and authored the white paper "Why the event promoters ordinance should be rejected", in which he found the Promoters' Ordinance to be unconstitutional. This is also the white paper on which JaGoFF used as the basis for the documentary.



Following the panel discussion we lighten things up a bit and open the floor to the DJs to spin late into the evening. If you are not hip to the proposed ordinance this is a great starting point. If you are aware of it, this is a great time to voice your questions, concerns and more importantly, for Chicago's creative community to come together as this law if passed would effect the entire creative community. The bottom line is that as written, the proposed ordinance is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and should not pass in any form whatsoever.

For those of you who think that this is a local issue... it is not. The war on the independent artist has crossed over the Atlantic and London now has a similar proposal entitled "Form 696". The city of San Jose just passed an ordinance as well. This is very scary $h!t people, as this effects the future of our culture, our right to free speech and freedom of expression.

Please feel free to spread the word and repost, as we need to reach out to as much of the community as possible. If you not in/from the Chicago-area, but wish to do something (which we strongly encourage) you can contact (email, fax, snail mail) City Hall here. We have posted the documentary online, please feel free to watch it, embed it, email it, whatever...

Thank you all so very much and we look forward to seeing you at the screening.

Dec.20th (6:30 - 10PM)
TheRecordIndustry.com & 3pHaze present:
World Premiere Screening of ...
"The Chicago Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music: A Documentary by JaGoFF"
@ The Chicago Art Department
1837 S. Halsted (Pilsen nieghborhood)
Chicago, IL
FREE

View the press release here.
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Reviews of the documentary
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"Not Done Yet" - Arts and Entertainment (DePaul)

Because it didn't just go away... (Gaper's Block)

Sword of Damocles (Chicagoist)

More On The Promoters Ordinance (AVANT/CHICAGO)

Possible return of Promoter Ordinance to kill Windy City indie scene (Examiner)

Lives Shows Under Threat in Chicago (indyish)