About us
Herzlich Willkommen! For those interested in German culture and language, this is the group for you! The Goethe-Institut Chicago is dedicated to promoting German language and culture, and would like to invite all German enthusiasts to join us at our events. There will be a variety of meet up opportunities including a monthly Stammtisch, German Film screenings, soccer match screenings, as well as performance and visual arts events. The goal is to practice German language skills as well as foster an appreciation for German culture, all in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Best of all, you get to meet others who share your passion for all things German!
Upcoming events
8
Slow Look: Wesley Willis
Kiosk, 3054 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA, Chicago, IL, USJoin us over Chicago Exhibition Week for this opportunity to engage more closely with the work of Wesley Willis and learn more about his life and art. This event is hosted in collaboration with Intuit Art Museum and will be facilitated by Joshua Willis, Lead Museum Educator.
A Slow Look is an invitation to pause with us and experience what happens when we stay with one image long enough for it to speak back.
Together, we spend 45 minutes with a single work of art in the gallery. We begin by grounding ourselves in the space and stepping away from the pace of everyday life. We may notice materials, techniques, ideas or emotions. We may sit in silence, share observations, ask questions or explore together. You do not need to be an expert. Just come ready to be present.
A Slow Look is time spent with art and with each other, a shared moment of attention and a chance to return to the simple act of looking together.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
I Am A Rock I Am A Roll explores the intersections of punk, DIY, and self-taught art through the work of two American and two German artists: Naomi Shintani Deibel, Jonas Müller-Ahlheim, Betsy Odom, and Wesley Willis. Part of Alle gegen Alles. Punk@50, a transatlantic, multi-city initiative marking the 50-year anniversary of punk taking place at Goethe-Instituts across North America in fall 2026, ‘I Am A Rock I Am A Roll’ is a collaboration between KIOSK and the Goethe-Institut Chicago and will feature film screenings, a zine workshop, a conversation on Chicago's punk history, and other programs at both locations.ABOUT THE ARTIST
Wesley Willis (b. 1963 in Chicago, IL; d. 2003 in Skokie, IL) was a Chicago artist and musician whose singular practice drew from the city’s streets, buses, music venues, and everyday encounters. Beginning as a street musician accompanying himself on a Technics keyboard, Willis developed a distinctive style of blunt, three-chord songs that transformed ordinary observations, popular culture, and personal experiences into music that was simultaneously hilarious, unsettling, and deeply original. Willis lived with schizophrenia, and for him writing, performing, and recording helped quiet the voices in his head. Alongside his prolific recording career—he wrote more than 1,000 songs and released more than 50 albums—Willis created detailed ballpoint and felt-tip drawings of Chicago and its landmarks. His work earned a devoted following and connected him with figures across the underground music scene, including Steve Albini, the Beastie Boys’ Mike D., and Jello Biafra, and his performances and recordings established him as a beloved Chicago cult figure. Willis passed away in 2003 at the age of 40, leaving behind an extraordinary body of music and drawings that continues to capture his unmistakable, idiosyncratic vision of the world.2 attendees
Film: Trial of Hein | Reeling44 - Chicago's LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657, USA, Chicago, IL, USFilm Screening | Part of Reeling44 - Chicago's LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
German with English subtitlesAfter fourteen years away, Hein returns to the remote North Sea Island where he grew up only to find that no one—not even his childhood friend Friedemann—recognizes him. As the close-knit community convenes a village court to determine whether he is truly who he claims to be, suspicion gives way to hostility and Hein’s sense of identity begins to unravel. Desperate to prove his past, he searches for evidence to validate his memories, only to confront a truth he has long denied. Blending mystery and psychological drama, this haunting tale, which won the Teddy Award Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, explores memory, belonging, identity, and the personal cost of repressing one’s true self.
Please visit Reeling's website for ticket pricing.
Trial of Hein | Reeling 2026: The 44th Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
2 attendees
European Day of Languages | Celebrating Multilingual Families
Alliance Française de Chicago, 810 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, Chicago, IL, USPanel discussion, story hour & book swap | Celebrating Multilingual Families
In celebration of European Day of Languages, the Alliance Française is pleased to partner with fellow Chicago-based European Union National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) to present a panel discussion on raising multilingual children.
During the panel discussion, children ages 0–12 are welcomed for a multilingual story hour in the cozy Brown Médiathèque.
After the program, the whole family is invited to the Eleanor Wood Prince Salon for complimentary café, croissants, and kid-friendly snacks.
Guests will have the opportunity to:
- continue the conversation with our panelists,
- connect with other families raising multilingual children,
- browse a selection of free used books in French, German, Spanish, and Lithuanian
- learn more about European cultures and the immigrant heritages of Chicago from our EUNIC partners
Children’s activities will be provided during the reception.
Doors at 12:30 pm. Program & story hour at 1:00.
Free & Open to the Public ($10 suggested donation)
Please register here: European Day of Languages 2027
1 attendee
Past events
302
