WICKER PARK — For the next three weekends, "Reinvented Buskers" stationed at three Wicker Park and Bucktown CTA Blue Line "L" stations will ask passersby for messages of hope and not money.
The free performances by beatbox harmonica artist Yuri Lane, magician Stephen Hanthorn and musical clown Mari DeOleo are supported through a $5,000 community arts grant awarded to Wicker Park-based Collaboraction Theatre by the Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area No. 33, a taxpayer-funded commission that brands itself as "WPB."
The "Reinvented Buskers" are scheduled to perform from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 15, according to a news release.
"Instead of asking for money, the artists will ask commuters to share their messages of hope for Wicker Park Bucktown and all of Chicago. Ideas will be incorporated into the performances," a WPB spokeswoman said.
According to a post on the Collaboraction Facebook page, the messages of hope will be posted to the theatre's social media accounts to inspire others, using the hashtag #ReinventedBusker.
This Friday, theater fans and commuters can find the buskers at the following stations:
Featured artists (Reinvented Buskers)
Division Blue Line, 1200 N. Milwaukee Ave: beatbox harmonica artist Yuri Lane
Western Blue Line, 1900 N. Western Ave..: musical clown Mari DeOleo
Damen Blue Line: 1588 N. Damen Ave.: magician Stephen Hanthorn
The buskers will rotate locations each Friday and Saturday though Oct. 15. This fall will be the second year for the buskers, who performed similar acts last September.
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