Presented in support of Elastic’s annual fundraiser gala, alongside performances from the AACM Percussion Ensemble and Infrathin (Whitney Johnson & Lula Asplund).
The 2026 Elastic Achievement Award will be presented to the legendary Chicago artist Renee C. Baker who is a conceptualist and recontextualist working across sound art, visual art, film, and duration.
“Praiseworthy: An Intelligent and Prompt Negro - A Railroad Disaster Averted." A story from artist Samuel Lewis II about his great-great grandfather, Phil McBride.
Told using a crankie-style illustration scroll, with sound design and musical accompaniment by multi-instrumentalist Hunter Diamond, this piece has been performed in Chicago at the Smart Museum, for the Nasty Brutish and Short series, the 2024 National Puppet Slam in Atlanta, the 2026 Baltimore Crankie Festival, and the 2026 New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival.
Read about Sam Lewis and his creative work in the Chicago Reader.