Van Paugam

08/25/2026

Friday, August 28 — Gallery Installation Closing Party w/ Van Paugam & Friends

For the past seven months, this gallery has served as a meeting point between modern Chicago and the visual language of Pre-Meiji Japan. Bridging cultures, eras, and serving as a reminder that nothing is ever truly forgotten.

This weekend is your final chance to experience the installation before it comes down and returns to the Japanese Culture Center.

This exhibition would not have been possible without the incredible work of 小田 碧雲/Hekiun Oda at New York, Patricia Larkin Green, Fujii Meiko, and 千葉 清藍 , whose calligraphy and artistic contributions form the foundation of the space.

For the closing party, we’re bringing the exhibition to life one final time with music, drinks, and an evening inside the installation before the gallery transforms once again.

市俄古 is a reflection on Chicago’s past & furure ; a city defined by constant movement, reinvention, resilience, and the people who continue to build and create within it.

A special thank you to Chicago DCASE for their Individual Artist Grant, which helped make it possible for the neon 市俄古 piece to light up the streets of the city during its time in the Whistler’s gallery February 21–Sept 1, 2026.

Come experience the exhibition one last time, meet the artists and people behind the project, and celebrate its closing with us.

MUSIC: House, Techno All Night

8–10 PM — Roach fresca_alex
10 PM–12 AM — Van Paugam Van Paugam
12 AM–Late — Jimmy Vega aka Tony Feta (Jimmy Vega)

Presented by
Japanese Culture Center-日本文化会館

Photos by BlueCollarJazz (Chicago)

07/29/2026

CitywaveFest DJ Lineup 🪩🎵🔥💖

07/28/2026

07/26/2026

07/16/2026

Starting tomorrow. Come catch my DJ set 10:30-1:30AM at Kamehachi in Old Town.

07/10/2026

When my father died I had to find ways to find comfort, and so I did what always makes me feel like home; I'd watch old anime. I watched Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell as coping mechanisms. I realized Ghost in the Shell had a reboot recently, so I tune into the first episode of the new series and the story begins on my birthday, albeit 3 years in the future. While not correlated in any way, nonetheless it was a synchronicity that gave me some pause. My favorite anime, with my birthday baked into the story. This tiny coincidence gave some levity to the situation, and shows the universe can be a strange, magical place.

07/08/2026

This guy has been stalking my socials, harassing my followers, and spreading some outlandish lies about me for a while now. It’s pretty disturbing. I think it really shows the type of character someone has to use their platform to spread hatred, but what can you expect of someone whose only accomplishment is posting on X… praying for him

06/28/2026

Akihiro Miwa, the renowned Japanese singer and actor known for the hit song "Yoitomake no Uta" and his acclaimed stage performance in "Black Lizard," has died at the age of 91.

05/12/2026

Disclaimer: The following is all based on personal opinions, experiences, and musings about the film. I’m not an academic or anything like that, so expect me taking liberties, going off on tangents and plenty of personal indulgences. Please take this all with a grain of salt. I’m not associated ...

05/08/2026

June 25th, join us for our 3rd installment of Wamono at Kamehachi. Tickets are already halfway sold out. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wamono-the-art-of-japanese-rare-groove-tickets-1988024680335

Join us at Kamehachi for our 3rd capsule event showcasing Japanese music on vinyl, food, and drink in a themed space! Limited Seating.