Arts Devo

It’s all happening “Warning: Show includes strobe lights, latex and adult content.” Chikoko is back!

Actually, the local fashion/performance collective never really left. The group’s core instigators—Muir Hughes, Christina Seashore, Nel Adams and Sara Rose Testman Bonetti—have continued to keep Chico flush with funky homegrown threads and performances thanks to their usual bazaars, trading posts and variety shows. It’s just that they took last year off from producing their immensely popular annual runway event/freakshow. But this Saturday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m., the big one is back at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds under the theme of Devotion: An Experimental Fashion Event. With two years to plan and prepare, Devotion promises to be an explosion of pent-up creativity, and a local cultural event not to be missed. Tickets are available for $25 at The Bookstore and $30 at the door.

Freaks! If you dig how the Chikoko crew rolls, then you will very likely be into (and probably are already aware of) the Keep Chico Weird talent and art shows. And if you’re someone who also has a strange talent, some weird act that you’ve always wanted to share with a captive audience in a packed venue, then the Chico News & Review wants to hear about it! Submissions are now being accepted for the 2018 Keep Chico Weird Talent Show (happening Feb. 24, at the Senator Theatre). And, we’ve just secured a location for this year’s Keep Chico Weird Art Show (Feb. 22-25), the lovely Maria Phillips Gallery inside the Museum of Northern California Art. Visit www.facebook.com/keepchicoweird for submission guidelines for both the talent and art shows. Let’s get weird, Chico!

Studio stalking The Open Studios Art Tour, Chico Art Center’s annual mega art walk—and one of Arts DEVO’s favorite local events—kicks off with a reception at the gallery on Friday, Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m., followed by two weekends of arts touring. Local artists open their spaces for visits from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 21-22 and 28-29, and you can purchase a $10 ticket at Chico Art Center (450 Orange St.).

By proclamation … At the Chico City Council meeting this week (Oct. 17), Mayor Sean Morgan handed out the annual Mayor’s Achievement in the Arts Awards. Congrats to this year’s very worthy recipients: Uncle Dad’s Arts Collective (Outstanding Organization); actor/Slow Theatre Executive Director Denver Latimer (Outstanding Artist); and artist, arts supporter and Made in Chico owner Graham Hutton (Outstanding Patronage of the Arts).