The Angry Waiter

Fans of art, music, photography and performance packed Plan B (1635 N. Milwaukee) Wednesday night for the first B-Side Art Show - a multi-medium show featuring bands, an original one act play, video art and an Amy Winehouse impersonator so dead -on I feared she’d be hauled away to the nearest rehab center before the show was over.

Two bartenders and a dj-turned-photographer were the real hit of the show, though.

Plan B’s own Jamie Reda (pictured), one of the event’s organizers, offered up probably the hottest exhibit of the evening, drawings of human nudes. But, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill nudes - rather than human heads, Jamie draws cartoon rabbit faces and heads on her figures.

Her work combines the beauty of the adult human form with the playfulness and unexpectedness of childhood. If you’re interested in seeing more of Jamie’s work, you can call her at 773-541-1310, but don’t expect her to answer…just leave a message.

Rodney Toler, a professional photographer who took the night off from his part-time bartending gig at T’s Bar and Restaurant (5025 N. Clark), showed six of his pieces - 20 inch by 20 inch photos shot with a 35mm camera, transfered to poloraids and then manipulated giving the photos a somewhat surrealistic feel. Viewers asked him all evening if they wear photos or paintings.

My favorite was a picture of Chicago’s skyline reflected off The Bean sculpture in Millenium Park and then manipulated so the buildings looked as if they were being blown sideways by the wind.

Ben Zeab, a dj and a photographer who chronicles Chicago’s nightlife scene, obviously has a talent for capturing the essence of his subjects. His portraits were hard to miss and few did. Maybe it’s all his years in the club scene - Ben obviously knows how to spot a pretty face and he knows how to shoot one too.

Let’s hope this is just the beginning for B-Side. The crowd has a good time, the entertainment was a blast and, as far as The Angry Waiter is concerned, it was great way for at least three people in the service industry to get some exporsure.