Who are Chicago’s culture curators?

cultural curators 2011: slide show

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  Michael Orlove

  Photo: Andrew Gill317.ac.culturalMikeOrlove.wbez4.jpg135234331
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  Phil Reynolds

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  Peter Taub

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  Zebo

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  Hamza Walker

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  Ed Marszewski

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  FIRING SQUAD Thanos, Williams, Van Selus and Cramer, from left, knock ’em dead weekly at Berlin.

  Photo: Courtesy of Nestor Photography242.x600.night.stardust.open.jpg693847
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Michael Orlove

Photo: Andrew Gill

They may or may not have had Da Mare on speed dial, but these cultural curators, bookers, influencers are all either highly respected in their fields, up-and-comers to watch or perennially influential. In light of this past week’s cover story on Lois Weisberg and the future of Chicago’s free summer festivals, it seemed a nice opportunity to take a quick, less-than-scientific who’s-who inventory of Chicago’s cultural curators. This is by no means a Cultural clout issue—but, quite honestly, I find it useful to take a quick look at who's-who in the cultural scene especially outside my usual areas-of-interest. So, here's a quick snapshot of Chicago's cultural curators. 

Art & Design

Jim Corbett and John Dempsey, codirectors of Corbett vs. Dempsey

Sarah Herda, executive director, Graham Foundation

Ed Marszewski (Edmar), Notorious art scene provocateur behind Version, Lumpen, Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar.

Allison Peters Quinn, director of exhibitions, Hyde Park Art Center

Shannon Stratton, executive and creative director, threewalls

Tricia Van Eck, associate curator, Museum of Contemporary Art

Hamza Walker, associate curator, Renaissance Society

Books
Fred Sasaki, The chief architect of the annual Printers' Ball extravaganza, an organizer of the think/drunk tank Homeroom, and an editor at Poetry and Stop Smiling.
Danielle Chapman, Director of Publishing Industry Programs for the city, and event organizer at the Cultural Center, and one of the creators behind chicagopublishes.com.
Emily Rose Kahn-Sheahan, Co-host of Mental Graffiti, board member of Chicago Slam Works, House Manager of the Encyclopedia Show and involved in just about every poetry event in the city.

Classical
Marcos Balter, Columbia College and Mead Composer-In-Residence at CSO

Comedy
Charna Halpern at iO
Kelly Leonard at Second City
Steve Gadlin at Blewt! Productions
Dan Telfer at Chicago Underground Comedy
Mark Geary at Lincoln Lodge