CGN is excited to announce that starting Saturday, June 3, 2017&nbsp;the meeting place for the River North Saturday morning gallery tours&nbsp;will&nbsp;be Fabcakes at 714&nbsp;N. Wells St. We are thrilled to partner with Fabcakes, an independently owned cafe in River North. 
&nbsp; 
Every Saturday morning at 11am a&nbsp;gallery representative meets participants inside Fabcakes at a designated table. Participants can enjoy a cup of coffee and complimentary samples from the bakery. The representative then takes the group on a guided tour of four River North galleries. The gallery roster and tour leader change weekly, and conversation centers on the exhibitions and artists on view. 
&nbsp; 
Tours run rain or shine every weekend of the year, except on major holiday weekends. No reservations are required. For groups larger than 10 people, please contact CGN at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@chicagogallerynews.com">info@chicagogallerynews.com</a> or 312-649-0064.

Participating Galleries as of June 3, 2017 include: 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/addington-gallery">Addington Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/gallery-victor-armendariz">Gallery Victor Armendariz</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/andrew-bae-gallery">Andrew Bae Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/catherine-edelman-gallery">Catherine Edelman Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/galerie-waterton">Galerie Waterton</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/hilton-asmus-contemporary">Hilton | Asmus Contemporary</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/ken-saunders-gallery">Ken Saunders Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/printworks-gallery">Printworks Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/the-rangefinder-gallery-at-tamarkin-camera">Rangefinder Gallery at Tamarkin Camera</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/schneider-jdc">Schneider | jdc</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/stephen-daiter-gallery">Stephen Daiter Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/vale-craft-gallery">Vale Craft Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/weinberg-newton-gallery">Weinberg/Newton Gallery</a> 
<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/zg-gallery">Zg Gallery</a> 
 
For more information and complete schedule visit: <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/art-services/free-cgn-saturday-gallery-tours">Free CGN Gallery Tours</a>

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="2109" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/2109/original/fabcakes.jpg" />

Starting Saturday, June 3, 2017 Fabcakes will be the meeting spot for the Saturday morning gallery tours in River North.

CGN River North Gallery Tour Announces New Meeting Location

Information excerpted from Richard Gray Gallery&#39;s website:

Polish sculptor&nbsp;Magdalena Abakanowicz (born in&nbsp;1930),&nbsp;an artist&nbsp;with a career spanning more than five decades, died yesterday in Warsaw.&nbsp;

In Chicago she is most known for&nbsp;Agora&nbsp;(2006),&nbsp;106 upright figures, made of iron and&nbsp;each standing&nbsp;nine feet tall,&nbsp;permanently&nbsp;installed in Grant Park.

Abakanowicz told The Chicago Tribune in 2005,&nbsp;&ldquo;Every sculpture can be turned into decoration. But if you have 100, you are confronted by them and must think and imagine and question yourself. This is what I want.&rdquo;

<img alt="" data-caption="Installation view from &lt;i&gt;Mutations&lt;/i&gt;, 2016 exhibition at Richard Gray Gallery in Chicago" data-rich-file-id="1980" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1980/original/6290d8c2867137214b9264402887cb3d.jpeg" />

Her first North American retrospective was organized at the <a href="https://mcachicago.org/Exhibitions/1982/Magdalena-Abakanowicz">Museum of Contemporary Art</a> in Chicago in 1982. She has works in the museum&#39;s permanent collection.&nbsp;

Throughout her long and prolific career she has developed a distinctive sculptural language that is specific to her recollections of life in Communist-ruled Eastern Europe while remaining open to universal readings of human struggle. Her installations often portray crowds of headless or faceless bodies as somber testimonies to ongoing personal, societal, and international violence. Mutations brings together sculptures from the past thirty-five years in an installation that emphasizes the sculpture&rsquo;s materials and symbolic impact. 
 
Magdalena Abakanowicz was born in Falenty, Poland in 1930 and studied painting at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. She was a foundational voice in the development of avant-garde sculpture beginning in the 1960s, particularly challenging the use of fiber as a sculptural material. By the 1970s, she had established herself as a presence in the global art community.

<img alt="" data-caption="Installation view from &lt;i&gt;Mutations&lt;/i&gt;, 2016 exhibition at Richard Gray Gallery in Chicago, showing works in burlap and resin, and bronze" data-rich-file-id="1978" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1978/original/1d49b9f21ff414e7464ee65b16316b3a.jpeg" />

She is regarded as one of the most influential sculptors of the Post War period. Her powerful portrayal of the figure explores the human condition, the relationship between man and nature, and social and political histories pertaining to her experience in Soviet-occupied Poland. 
 
Her earliest mature works&mdash;monumental, soft textile sculptures called Abakans that she completed when she was in her early thirties&mdash;won the artist international recognition in an era when very few Polish citizens were permitted to travel abroad. Since that time, Abakanowicz has become best known for her unique treatment of the human figure, often headless and modeled in found burlap or cast in bronze, representing our capacity to follow a leader or movement blindly, without thought. At the same time, she creates each form by hand, emphasizing the individuality that remains, even in the crowd.

<img alt="" data-caption="Magdalena Abakanowicz, &lt;i&gt;The Group of Five with Arms&lt;/i&gt;, 2014, bronze, 60&quot; x 84&quot; x 36&quot;." data-rich-file-id="1981" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1981/original/31483cb1847512407efc1e213351d459.jpg" />

Abakanowicz studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw from 1950 &ndash; 1954. Her work can be found in public collections internationally including the Art Institute of Chicago; the Australian National Gallery of Art, Canberra; the Center for Contemporary Art, Warsaw; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the Israel Museum, Jerusalem; the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri; the Ludwig Museum, Cologne; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Mus&eacute;e d&#39;Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea; the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; the Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York; the Sezon Museum of Art, Tokyo and many others.

Additional reading: <a href="http://www.richardgraygallery.com/artists/magdalena-abakanowicz">richardgraygallery.com</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/arts/design/magdalena-abakanowicz-sculptor-of-brooding-forms-dies-at-86.html?_r=0">nytimes.com</a>

Top image: Magdalena Abakanowicz,&nbsp;Agora, 2006.&nbsp;Courtesy the artist and Richard Gray Gallery.

Magdalena Abakanowicz, a Polish sculptor with a career that spans more than 50 years, died on Thursday.

Polish Sculptor and Agora Artist Magdalena Abakanowicz Has Died at 86

The Terra Foundation for American Art&nbsp;in partnership with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation&nbsp;officially announced&nbsp;Art Design Chicago, a yearlong&nbsp;initiative&nbsp;to explore Chicago&#39;s role in the history of art and design.&nbsp;Art Design Chicago&nbsp;provides over $6 million in funding to&nbsp;support exhibitions and public programming at more than 40 cultural organizations.&nbsp;Partners range from large institutions like&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/art-institute-of-chicago">Art Institute of Chicago</a> and the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution to community focused art organizations like the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/hyde-park-art-center-hpac">Hyde Park Art Center</a> and the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/south-side-community-art-center">South Side Community Art Center</a>.

A number of exhibitions have been announced including Arte Dise&ntilde;o Xic&aacute;go: Mexican Inspiration from the World&rsquo;s Columbian Exposition to the Civil Rights Era at the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/national-museum-of-mexican-art--2">National Museum of Mexican Art</a>; Picture Fictions: Kenneth Johnson and Contemporary Photography at the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/museum-of-contemporary-art-chicago-mca">Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago</a>;&nbsp;A Home for Surrealism at the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/the-arts-club-of-chicago">Arts Club of Chicago</a>; South Side Stories: Rethinking Chicago Art, 1960-1975 at the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/smart-museum-of-art">Smart Museum of Art</a> and the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/dusable-museum">DuSable Museum of African American History</a>; and Chicago Disability Arts and Design: At the Center of the Disability Rights Movement 1974-2000 at <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/gallery-400">Gallery 400</a>.

Other notable forthcoming programs include Show the World: 150 Years of Chicago Art and Design, a four-part documentary produced by WTTW-TV (PBS) and Into the City: A History of Chicago Art published by University of Chicago Press.

Elizabeth Glassman, president and CEO of the Terra Foundation noted, &ldquo;We are delighted to be working with so many brilliant organizations to bring Art Design Chicago to life, and to share with new and existing audiences the dynamic artistic history of Chicago. This city has long had a pioneering spirit, championing the avant-garde, and shaping modern art and design. Chicago continues to be uniquely positioned to translate artistic vision into the consumer goods that we live with everyday. We could not think of a better moment to launch this initiative, when reconnecting with who and what comprises the American story is so essential and immediate.&rdquo;

For more information visit <a href="http://www.artdesignchicago.org">www.artdesignchicago.org</a>

<img alt="" data-caption="Ephemera, “Hollywood Bond Cavalcade,” Soldier Field, Chicago, September 16, 1943, courtesy University of Chicago Press" data-rich-file-id="1948" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1948/original/08-into-the-city.jpg" />

Art Design Chicago: Partners To Date&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution</li>
	<li>The Art Institute of Chicago</li>
	<li>The Arts Club of Chicago</li>
	<li>Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University</li>
	<li>Black Metropolis Research Consortium</li>
	<li>Caxton Club</li>
	<li>Chicago Art Deco Society</li>
	<li>Chicago Cultural Alliance</li>
	<li>Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events</li>
	<li>Chicago Design Museum</li>
	<li>Chicago History Museum</li>
	<li>Chicago Humanities Festival</li>
	<li>Chicago Parks Foundation&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Chicago Public Library</li>
	<li>Chicago Public Schools</li>
	<li>DePaul Art Museum</li>
	<li>DePaul University</li>
	<li>Duke University Press&nbsp;</li>
	<li>DuSable Museum of African American History</li>
	<li>Edgar Miller Legacy</li>
	<li>Ed Paschke Art Center&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Elmhurst College</li>
	<li>EXPO Chicago</li>
	<li>Gallery 400</li>
	<li>Glessner House Museum&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Hyde Park Art Center</li>
	<li>Illinois Executive Mansion Association</li>
	<li>Illinois Humanities</li>
	<li>Illinois Women Artists Project</li>
	<li>Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art</li>
	<li>Jane Addams Hull-House Museum&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Koehnline Museum of Art</li>
	<li>Mary &amp; Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University</li>
	<li>Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago</li>
	<li>Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago</li>
	<li>Museum of Modern Art, New York</li>
	<li>National Museum of Mexican Art</li>
	<li>National Public Housing Museum</li>
	<li>Navy Pier</li>
	<li>Newberry Library</li>
	<li>Northwestern University Press</li>
	<li>Rebuild Foundation</li>
	<li>The Renaissance Society at University of Chicago</li>
	<li>The Richard H. Driehaus Museum</li>
	<li>Smart Museum of Art</li>
	<li>South Side Community Art Center</li>
	<li>Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership</li>
	<li>Tang Museum at Skidmore College</li>
	<li>UChicago Arts Public Art Program&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art</li>
	<li>&nbsp;University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies</li>
	<li>University of Chicago Press</li>
	<li>University of Illinois at Chicago</li>
	<li>University of Illinois Press</li>
	<li>Vamonde</li>
	<li>Video Game Art Gallery</li>
	<li>WTTW</li>
</ul>

Top image: Kenneth Josephson, Chicago, 1972, gelatin silver print, 4 3/4 x 7 in. (12.1 x 17.8 cm), Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of the Foster Charitable Trust in memory of Reuben A. Foster, 1983.37 &copy; 1972 Kenneth Josephson. Photo: Nathan Keay &copy; MCA Chicago

The Terra Foundation announced a major 2018 initiative to explore the history of art and design in Chicago.

Terra Foundation Announces Yearlong Initiative to Explore Impact of Chicago's Art and Design Legacy

By ALISON REILLY

<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/art-services/expo-chicago">EXPO Chicago</a> announced details for their new partnership with Palais de Tokyo, the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/institutions/dusable-museum">DuSable Museum of African American History</a>, and the Institut Fran&ccedil;ais. With the support of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, these four organizations have come together to present a group&nbsp;exhibition at the DuSable Museum&#39;s Roundhouse, which will coincide with EXPO Art Week (September 13-17, 2017) and the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2017/3/chicago-architecture-biennial-announces-2017-participants">opening of the second Chicago Architecture Biennial</a> (September 16, 2017-January 8, 2018).

Chicago architecture firm Burnham and Root designed the Roundhouse as equestrian stables for the 1893 World&rsquo;s Columbian Exposition. Despite the prestige of the space, it has been vacant for more than 50 years. The DuSable Museum acquired the building in 2005 and has spent time raising funds to reconstruct and restore it to its original state.

<img alt="" data-caption="Tony Karman, president and director of EXPO Chicago, speaks at a press conference on March 7, 2017 at the DuSable Museum's Roundhouse." data-rich-file-id="1889" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1889/original/tonykarman-hlm.jpg" />

The expansive 17,000-sq. ft. building with a vaulted ceiling, decorative windows, natural sunlight, and impressive acoustics will now serve as an ambitious exhibition space for 12 artists selected by curator Katell Jaffr&egrave;s of Palais de Tokyo and guest designer Andrew Schachman, who was nominated by the Graham Foundation. Jaffr&egrave;s, who spoke at the press conference on Tuesday, is still in the process of selecting artists but envisions five structures within the space, which will serve &ldquo;as works of art able to welcome other works of art.&rdquo; The participating artists, who will be&nbsp;representative both of the Chicago art scene and the Francophone world, will install site-specific works of art in the building.

A number of representatives from&nbsp;particpating institutions attended the&nbsp;announcement including Tony Karman, president of EXPO; Jean de Loisy, president of Palais de Tokyo; Perri L. Irmer, president of the DuSable Museum; Fabrice Rozie, cultural attach&eacute; of the French Embassy, along with Mark Kelly, Commissioner for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in Chicago.

Kelly expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership noting that the confluence of the Roundhouse exhibition, EXPO Chicago, the Chicago Architecture Biennial and the city&rsquo;s Year of Public Art would provide an opportunity for &quot;all of Chicago&quot; to engage in the celebration of art, architecture and design. The <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2017/1/the-city-of-chicago-designates-2017-the-year-of-public-art">2017 Public Art initiative</a> promises&nbsp;art installations in all of the Chicago&#39;s 50 wards, a move to assuage criticism that the city&#39;s funds are diverted largely to downtown areas to increase tourism.

<img alt="" data-caption="An interior view of the Roundhouse, which will be used to exhibit the work of 12 artists with ties to Chicago and France." data-rich-file-id="1890" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1890/original/interior-hlm.jpg" />

The partnership is also significant because it marks the beginning of Palais de Tokyo&rsquo;s Hors les Murs initiative, which presents off-site exhibitions around the world. Rozie emphasized that &ldquo;the choice of Chicago is not random,&rdquo; and that the French Embassy, along with Palais de Tokyo, is invested in engaging with cultural and educational partners across the South Side of Chicago.

Hors les Murs at the Roundhouse will be open to the public September 12-October 29, 2017.&nbsp;

The sixth edition of EXPO Chicago will now include an installation at the DuSable Museum's newly renovated Roundhouse. 

EXPO Chicago & Palais de Tokyo Announce New Partnership with DuSable Museum

The Chicago Architecture Biennial announced participants for its second edition, Make New History,&nbsp;scheduled to open September 16, 2017. The biennial, led by artistic directors Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee&nbsp;of Johnston Marklee,&nbsp;will feature the work of more than 100 architects, artists, designers&nbsp;and firms from around the world.

Local participants include <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2016/8/ania-jaworska-relocating-the-canon">Ania Jaworska</a> (featured in the fall 2016&nbsp;issue of&nbsp;Chicago Gallery News and represented by <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/volume-gallery">Volume Gallery</a>),&nbsp;Daniel Everett,&nbsp;David Schalliol,&nbsp;Design With Company,&nbsp;I&ntilde;igo Manglano-Ovalle,&nbsp;Marshall Brown (recently exhibited at the <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/the-arts-club-of-chicago">Arts Club of Chicago</a> and <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/western-exhibitions">Western Exhibitions</a>),&nbsp;Norman Kelley (represented by <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/volume-gallery">Volume Gallery</a>),&nbsp;Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner,&nbsp;Robert Somol,&nbsp;Tigerman McCurry Architects and&nbsp;UrbanLab (designed Shane Campbell Gallery&#39;s South Loop space).&nbsp;

The full list of 2017 participants includes:

51N4E (Brussels, Belgium; Tirana, Albania)&nbsp; 
6A Architects (London, UK)&nbsp; 
&Aacute;balos+Sentkiewicz (Madrid, Spain;&nbsp; 
Cambridge, USA; Shanghai, China)&nbsp; 
Adamo-Faiden (Buenos Aires, Argentina)&nbsp; 
AGENdA agencia de arquitectura (Medellin,&nbsp;Colombia)&nbsp; 
Aires Mateus (Lisbon, Portugal)&nbsp; 
Ana Prvački and SO-IL (Los Angeles, USA;&nbsp;New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Andrew Kovacs (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
Angela Deuber Architect (Chur,&nbsp;Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Ania Jaworska (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
Aranda\Lasch and Terrol Dew Johnson&nbsp;(New York, USA; Tucson, USA)&nbsp; 
Archi-Union (Shanghai, China)&nbsp; 
Architecten de Vylder Vinck Taillieu (Ghent,&nbsp;Belgium)&nbsp; 
Arno Brandlhuber and Christopher Roth&nbsp;(Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
Atelier Manferdini (Venice, USA)&nbsp; 
AWP office for territorial reconfiguration&nbsp;(Paris, France; London, UK)&nbsp; 
Bak Gordon Arquitectos (Lisbon, Portugal)&nbsp; 
Barbas Lopes (Lisbon, Portugal)&nbsp; 
Barkow Leibinger (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
baukuh (Milan, Italy)&nbsp; 
Besler &amp; Sons LLC (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
BLESS (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
BUREAU SPECTACULAR (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
Caruso St John (London, UK)&nbsp; 
Charlap Hyman &amp; Herrero (Los Angeles,&nbsp;USA; New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Charles Waldheim (Cambridge, USA)&nbsp; 
Christ &amp; Gantenbein (Basel, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Daniel Everett (Chicago, USA; Salt Lake&nbsp;City, USA)&nbsp; 
David Schalliol (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
Dellekamp Arquitectos (Mexico City,&nbsp;Mexico)&nbsp; 
Design With Company (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
Diego Arraigada Arquitectos (Rosario,&nbsp;Argentina)&nbsp; 
DOGMA (Brussels, Belgium)&nbsp; 
DRDH (London, UK)&nbsp; 
ENSAMBLE STUDIO (Madrid, Spain;&nbsp;Boston, USA)&nbsp; 
&Eacute;ric Lapierre Architecture (Paris, France)&nbsp; 
Estudio Barozzi Veiga (Barcelona, Spain)&nbsp; 
fala atelier (Porto, Portugal)&nbsp; 
Filip Dujardin (Ghent, Belgium)&nbsp; 
Fiona Connor and Erin Besler (Los Angeles,&nbsp;USA; Auckland, New Zealand)&nbsp; 
First Office (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
formlessfinder (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Frida Escobedo (Mexico City, Mexico)&nbsp; 
Gerard and Kelly (Los Angeles, USA; New&nbsp;York, USA)&nbsp; 
Go Hasegawa (Tokyo, Japan)&nbsp; 
HHF Architects (Basel, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
I&ntilde;igo Manglano-Ovalle (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
J. MAYER H. und Partner, Architekten and&nbsp;Philip Ursprung (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
James Welling (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Jes&uacute;s Vassallo (Houston, USA)&nbsp; 
Jorge Otero-Pailos (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
June14 Meyer-Grohbr&uuml;gge &amp; Chermayeff&nbsp;(New York, USA; Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
Karamuk * Kuo Architects (New York, USA;&nbsp;Zurich, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Keith Krumwiede (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
K&eacute;r&eacute; Architecture (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
Kuehn Malvezzi (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
Luisa Lambri (Milan, Italy)&nbsp; 
L&uuml;tjens Padmanabhan Architekten (Zurich,&nbsp;Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Made In (Geneva, Switzerland; Zurich,&nbsp;Switzerland)&nbsp; 
MAIO (Barcelona, Spain)&nbsp; 
Marianne Mueller (Zurich, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Marshall Brown (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
MG&amp;Co. (Houston, USA)&nbsp; 
MONADNOCK (Rotterdam, The&nbsp;Netherlands)&nbsp; 
MOS (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Norman Kelley (Chicago, USA; New York,&nbsp;USA)&nbsp; 
Nuno brand&aring;o costa arquitectos Ida (Porto,&nbsp;Portugal)&nbsp; 
OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen&nbsp;(Brussels, Belgium)&nbsp; 
PASCAL FLAMMER (Zurich, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Patrick Braouezec (Paris, France)&nbsp; 
Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner (Chicago,&nbsp;USA; Denver, USA)&nbsp; 
Pezo Von Ellrichshausen (Concepci&oacute;n,&nbsp;Chile)&nbsp; 
Philipp Schaerer (Zurich, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
PRODUCTORA (Mexico City, Mexico)&nbsp; 
REAL Foundation (London, UK)&nbsp; 
Robert Somol (Chicago, USA)&nbsp; 
SADAR+VUGA (Ljubljana, Slovenia)&nbsp; 
Sam Jacob Studio (London, UK)&nbsp; 
SAMI-arquitectos (Setubal, Portugal)&nbsp; 
SANAA (Tokyo, Japan)&nbsp; 
Sauter von Moos (Basel, Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Sergison Bates (London, UK; Zurich,&nbsp;Switzerland)&nbsp; 
Serie Architects (London, UK; Zurich,&nbsp;Switzerland)&nbsp; 
SHINGO MASUDA+KATSUHISA OTSUBO&nbsp;Architects (Tokyo, Japan)&nbsp; 
Stan Allen Architect (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
Studio Anne Holtrop (Muharraq, Bahrain;&nbsp;Amsterdam, The Netherlands)&nbsp; 
Studiomumbai (Mumbai, India)&nbsp; 
Sylvia Lavin (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
T+E+A+M (Ann Arbor, USA)&nbsp; 
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (Mexico City,&nbsp;Mexico)&nbsp; 
Tham &amp; Videg&aring;rd Arkitekter (Stockholm,&nbsp;Sweden)&nbsp; 
The Empire (Verona, Italy)&nbsp; 
The Living (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
The Los Angeles Design Group (Los&nbsp;Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
Thomas Baecker Bettina Kraus (Berlin,&nbsp;Germany)&nbsp; 
Tigerman McCurry Architects (Chicago,&nbsp;USA)&nbsp; 
Toshiko Mori Architect (New York, USA)&nbsp; 
UrbanLab (Chicago, USA; Los Angeles,&nbsp;USA)&nbsp; 
Urbanus (Shenzhen, China; Beijing, China)&nbsp; 
Veronika Kellndorfer (Berlin, Germany)&nbsp; 
WELCOMEPROJECTS (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
Work Architecture Company (New York,&nbsp;USA)&nbsp; 
Zago Architecture (Los Angeles, USA)&nbsp; 
ZAO/standardarchitecture (Shanghai,&nbsp;China)

For CGN&#39;s past coverage of the biennial visit:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2017/1/second-chicago-architecture-biennial-to-coincide-with-sixth-expo-chicago">Second Chicago Architecture Biennial to Coincide with Sixth EXPO Chicago</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2015/9/the-inaugural-chicago-architecture-biennial">The Inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial</a></li>
</ul>

Top image:&nbsp;Johnston Marklee and Gramazio Kohler, Chicago Rooms Center,&nbsp;&copy; Chicago Architecture Biennial /&nbsp;Tom Harris, 2015

The Chicago Architecture Biennial announced participants for its 2017 edition.

Chicago Architecture Biennial Announces 2017 Participants

<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/kavi-gupta">Kavi Gupta</a> announced&nbsp;that Chicago-based&nbsp;gallery artist McArthur Binion will be featured in the 57th Venice Biennale, which opens in May.&nbsp;

Viva Arte Viva&nbsp;will be curated by Christine Macel.&nbsp;The 57th International Art Exhibition is open to the public May 13&ndash;November 26, 2017, at the&nbsp;Giardini and the&nbsp;Arsenale in Venice, Italy.&nbsp;

120 artists are part of this year&#39;s exhibition, down from 136 last year, and the curator has said that her emphasis will be on the artists and how they see and interpret society today, rather than a unifying themes. Binion is the only Chicago-based artist on this year&#39;s list.&nbsp;

Visit the exhibition&#39;s <a href="http://www.labiennale.org/en/art/news/06-02.html?back=true">website</a> for more information.

Top image:&nbsp;McArthur Binion,&nbsp;DNA: Seasons: XI,&nbsp;2016, Oil paint stick, paper on board, 72&rdquo; x 96&rdquo;. Courtesy of the artist and Kavi Gupta

McArthur Binion Included in 57th Venice Biennale 

Our first edition of the new Chicago Gallery News 2017 Arts Guide is here!&nbsp;

Pick up a copy of our 160-page book in area galleries, museums, the Chicago Cultural Center, area hotels and more locations.

You may also <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/subscribe">subscribe</a> and receive our summer and fall magazines as well.&nbsp;

We offer new and expanded listings, vibrant images, detailed exhibition information, seasonal <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/calendar?tag=opening-receptions">openings</a>, 2017 art news, and much more. &nbsp;

You may also browse our digital edition <a href="http://issuu.com/chigallerynews/docs/cgn2017annualforissuu?e=3171751/43814696">here</a>.

Tell us what you think, let us know if you&#39;d like to obtain copies, and we look foward to connecting with you and sharing the art world in new ways this year.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Thank you especially to artist Carlos Rol&oacute;n/Dzine for his vibrant&nbsp;cover artwork:&nbsp;Flooded with Ecstasy,&nbsp;Resin and Acrylic on wood panel,&nbsp;Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York, and David Castillo Gallery, Miami&nbsp;

New Annual CGN Arts Guide Is Here

2017 marks the second celebration of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. In partnership with City of Chicago, EXPO Chicago and others, the biennial will explore the theme MAKE NEW HISTORY by presenting diverse work from local, national and international architects. The Chicago cityscape will serve as the backdrop for the development of new architectural projects, proposals, and experiments that consider role of architectural traditions within progress and innovation.

More than half a million Chicago residents and tourists attended the 2015 Biennial. The focus this year will again be on engagement with the public by using the Chicago Cultural Center as the main hub. The Cultural Center, along with Hyde Park Art Center, The Beverly Art Center and others, will host a full schedule of exhibitions, events, and public programming.

Architects Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee will serve as artistic directors. Their firm, Johnston Marklee, has completed projects in North and South American, Europe and Asia and is currently working on a renovation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, which is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2017.

The Biennial will take place from September 16-January 7, 2018, and the opening with align with the sixth annual EXPO Chicago, which will run September 13-17 at Navy Pier.

For more information visit <a href="http://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org">chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org</a>

Image: Pedro &amp; Juana, &copy; Chicago Architecture Biennial / Steve Hall, 2015

The second celebration of the Chicago Architectural Biennial is scheduled for fall 2017 and will explore the theme Make New History.

Second Chicago Architecture Biennial to Coincide with Sixth EXPO Chicago

One of Chicago&rsquo;s leading arts institutions has hit middle-age: The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017. Grounded in a mission devoted to the curation of contemporary art and to performance through experimentation and collaboration, today the MCA claims an expansive, diverse collection of contemporary works as well as a range of socially-conscious programs, artist initiatives and community outreach. Many influential international artists can trace their start back to exhibitions nurtured here &ndash; the MCA hosted Jeff Koons&rsquo;s first solo museum show.

The MCA first opened at 237 E Ontario (the former Playboy headquarters) as a Kunsthalle&mdash;non-collecting art hall&mdash;in 1967. Over the past half century the MCA became the first building wrapped by Christo in the United States (1969), established a permanent collection, commissioned a building to house that collection (the present space opened in 1996 at 220 E Chicago), presented a landmark survey of Chicago artists and artistic traditions &ndash; Art in Chicago, 1945&ndash;1995 &ndash; began a noted public plaza series, and much more.

A 50th birthday is an honor. Anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year, including a major, three-part exhibition on view from the end of October through January 28, 2018, titled, I Am You, You Are Here, We Are Everywhere.

An October 21 opening for the exhibition is a public event, and all are encouraged to attend. Afterall, a party is always more fun with friends.

Up-to-date event and exhibition information can be found at <a href="http://mcachicago.org">mcachicago.org</a>

Image: MCA Chicago front steps. Photo: Nathan Keay, &copy; MCA Chicago.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago celebrates its 50th year with special events and major exhibitions.

A Museum of the New Turns 50: The MCA’s Big Birthday

50 years ago on August 15, 1967, Pablo Picasso&rsquo;s 50-foot tall, abstract steel sculpture was donated to the city and unveiled in Daley Plaza. Chicago&rsquo;s long and rich tradition of making public art an accessible, often times literally monumental, part of our every day lives, has only continued to expand and evolve.

Today, thousands of tourists visit Anish Kapoor&rsquo;s Cloud Gate (known more casually as &ldquo;The Bean&rdquo;) and just as many local children splash in the spray of Jaume Plensa&rsquo;s interactive, face changing Crown Fountain each summer. It is art that gives Chicago much of its creative character and international appeal. In recognition of this legacy, The City of Chicago has announced a Public Art initiative and schedule for the entire year; the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has coined 2017 as the Year of Public Art, with a slate of planned public exhibitions, and pledged a $1.5 million investment designated to support permanent public art installations throughout the city&rsquo;s 50 wards.

<img alt="" data-caption="View of Anish Kapoor’s &lt;i&gt;Cloud Gate&lt;/i&gt;, Millennium Park, Chicago. Photo: Laura Mettam" data-rich-file-id="1757" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1757/original/chicagopublicart-keyimage.jpg" />

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, expressing a personal interest in public art projects notes, &ldquo;There is no question that art is vital to a neighborhood&rsquo;s spirit and the quality of life for residents.&rdquo;

The program is designed to share art with residents in every single neighborhood, not just the downtown tourist centers. Events will showcase several neighborhoods and their unique creativity. Venues include DuSable Museum of African American History, South Side Community Art Center, Daley Plaza, National Museum of Mexican Art, and more. A significant cornerstone for the Year of Public Art will be the Public Art Festival premiering in the fall and offering free activities for people of all ages.&nbsp;

More information at <a href="http://cityofchicago.org">cityofchicago.org</a>

Top image:&nbsp;Picasso&rsquo;s untitled sculpture caused a stir when it was first revealed. Today public opinion is primarily supportive, though it is a piece that still continues to inspire discussion and opinions. Photo: &copy; Jeremy Atherton, 2006.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago designates 2017 as the Year of Public Art.

The City of Chicago Designates 2017 The Year of Public Art

In early 2017&nbsp;CGN&nbsp;will launch a new chapter, with our first edition of&nbsp;The CGN Arts Guide. This comprehensive listings publication will cover the visual arts in Chicago, the suburbs, as well as in neighboring Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and beyond.&nbsp;

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="1724" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1724/original/cag-coverdraft.jpg" />

Look for the new 5&quot; x 8&quot;&nbsp;orange guide &ndash;&nbsp;with&nbsp;cover art featuring work&nbsp;by <a href="http://www.carlosrolondzine.com">Carlos Rol&oacute;n/Dzine</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;in galleries, museums, hotels and more&nbsp;in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

The CGN Arts Guide will feature expanded gallery listings, lists of all art spaces in the city,&nbsp;more images,&nbsp;key event and opening dates for 2017,&nbsp;&nbsp;museums, auction houses, art fairs, private dealer listings, collector resources,&nbsp;and more.&nbsp;

Building on our 34+ year history, we are excited to change things&nbsp;while continuing to be a top resource for the arts in the Midwest.&nbsp;

This summer and fall we will roll out expanded issues of&nbsp;Chicago Gallery News, featuring more news and interviews than ever.

The guide will be released around February 1, 2017.

Happy new year!

&nbsp;

Cover image for CGN Arts Guide:&nbsp;Carlos Rol&oacute;n/Dzine,&nbsp;Flooded with Ecstasy,&nbsp;Resin and Acrylic on wood panel,&nbsp;Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York, and David Castillo Gallery, Miami&nbsp;

Information on the new CGN Arts Guide in 2017

New CGN Arts Guide in 2017

Charlie Belloc&nbsp;Lowndes, an art dealer and&nbsp;longtime friend to many in the River North Gallery District, passed away unexpectedly on December 20 several days after suffering injuries from&nbsp;a hard fall. Charlie was also married for many years to another friend of the art world, Portia Belloc&nbsp;Lowndes.&nbsp;&nbsp;A service is planned for&nbsp;January 3rd at noon in River North at Immaculate Conception. Charlie's full obituary is <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&amp;pid=183243926">here</a>.&nbsp;Detailed information about Charlie's condition from Portia Belloc-Lowndes is available through&nbsp;Caringbridge.com&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1725/original/screen-20shot-202016-12-26-20at-203-37-05-20pm.png" alt=""></figure>&nbsp;Some thoughts from friend and fellow dealer Dan Addington are reprinted below:On Friday Dec. 9, Chicago art dealer and friend&nbsp;Charlie Belloc-Lowndes took a hard fall, striking his head. He passed away a few days ago, on Dec 20th.Charlie and I started working in galleries in River North across the street from each other the same year, 1995. He had moved from England, and was already a seasoned art dealer. He opened Belloc Lowndes Fine Art, located on Superior Street, and it was a fantastic space. Charlie had a great eye, and an encyclopedic knowledge of British modern and contemporary art. His exhibitions were impeccable, and his clients loved him. Charlie supported the Chicago art scene, and when he discovered I was opening my own space on Wells St., he was very encouraging, frequently offering advice and always making me laugh. In the last few years, having gone private, he came by the gallery more frequently, and I really enjoyed his visits as he recounted great gallery stories, each more entertaining than the last.Charlie was a real cheerleader for the River North Gallery District, and he holds an important place in the history of Chicago's art world. More importantly, he was a devoted and loving father of two girls who survive him, along with his loving and devoted ex-wife Portia. We wish them strength and comfort during this time. Charlie, thanks for all the positive and artful things you contributed to Chicago and our lives.&nbsp;SaveSaveSaveSave

Former art dealer Charlie Belloc Lowndes died Dec 20, 2016

Former River North Art Dealer Charlie Belloc-Lowndes Dies

Three Chicago galleries and the University of Chicago shared their congratulations on Friday on behalf of artists who will be participating in the 2017 Whitney Biennial.&nbsp;

63 artists are participating next year as&nbsp;part of the always highly anticipated survey of the state of contemporary art. The Biennial is the longest running contempoary art survey in the US, and this edition will be the first held in the museum&#39;s new (and larger)&nbsp;downtown building after a relocation from the Upper East Side.&nbsp;

The museum&#39;s website notes, &quot;The formation of self and the individual&rsquo;s place in a turbulent society are among the key themes reflected in the work of the artists selected for the 2017 Whitney Biennial. The exhibition includes sixty-three participants, ranging from emerging to well-established individuals and collectives working in painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, film and video, photography, activism, performance, music, and video game design.&quot;

The 2017 Whitney Biennial is co-curated by Christopher Y. Lew and Mia Locks. The film program is organized by Christopher Y. Lew, Mia Locks, and Aily Nash.

&nbsp;

<h3>Rhona Hoffman Gallery: Deana Lawson&nbsp;</h3>

Deana Lawson&#39;s work is now on view in the group exhibition&nbsp;Rhona Hoffman 40 Years Part 2: Gender. Race. Identity.&nbsp;through December 23.

<img alt="" data-caption="Deana Lawson, &lt;i&gt;Self-Portrait&lt;/i&gt;, 2013" data-rich-file-id="1665" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1665/original/wqpr-deanalawsonselfportrait2013-1.jpg" />

&nbsp;

<h3>Corbett vs. Dempsey: Cauleen Smith</h3>

Cauleen Smith&#39;s current exhibition at Corbett vs. Demsey&nbsp;closes December&nbsp;3.

<img alt="" data-caption="Cauleen Smith, &lt;i&gt;Conduct your Blooming&lt;/i&gt;, 2015, seven banners, sequin and satin fabric with felt, cotton, velvet and rayon letters, dimensions variable" data-rich-file-id="1664" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1664/original/20161118165318876-540-443-1-0.jpeg" />

&nbsp;

<h3>PATRON:&nbsp;Harold Mendez</h3>

Harold Mendez recently showed his work in a solo exhibition at PATRON. Read CGN&#39;s fall 2016 interview with PATRON founders <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2016/8/patron-committed-to-chicago">here</a>.

<img alt="" data-caption="Harold Mendez in his studio at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Rauschenberg Residency, Summer 2016. Photograph by Mark Poucher, courtesy of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Rauschenberg Residency" data-rich-file-id="1667" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1667/original/haroldmendez.jpg" />

&nbsp;

<h3>William Pope.L&nbsp;</h3>

William Pope.L, a provocative performance artist, is faculty in the Department of Visual Arts at the&nbsp;University of Chicago.

<img alt="" data-caption="POPE.L, &lt;i&gt;The Great White Way, 22 miles, 9 years, 1 street (Whitney version #2)&lt;/i&gt;, 1990, video, duration: 6:35 minutes. © Pope.L " data-rich-file-id="1669" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1669/original/89047ee8.jpg" />

&nbsp;

<a href="http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/2017Biennial">The Whitney Biennial 2017</a> runs from March 17-June 11, 2017 in New York City.

Top image: Deana Lawson,&nbsp;Kingdom Come, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2015, inkjet print mounted on Sintra,&nbsp;61 1/2 &times; 50 in,&nbsp;Edition 3/3 + 2AP

Chicago galleries, including Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Corbett vs. Demsey and PATRON, announce artist participation in 2017 Whitney Biennial.

Chicago Galleries Announce Artists Accepted into 2017 Whitney Biennial

By ALISON REILLY

Four Chicago galleries that currently occupy the 845 W Washington Boulevard Building in the West Loop will be relocating to the Ukrainian Village neighborhood in January 2017. In a press release sent on Tuesday, DOCUMENT, Paris London Hong Kong, Volume Gallery, and Western Exhibitions announced that they would be moving collectively into a new space at 1709 W Chicago Avenue.

Western Exhibitions gallery owner Scott Speh expressed his excitement for moving into the new neighborhood. In an email to CGN, he wrote, &ldquo;We are thrilled to expand into custom-designed brand new galleries with more exhibition, office, and storage space for each venue, in a culturally relevant neighborhood near several other galleries that is much less congested than the overheated West Loop. The convenience of the new location and the opportunity to develop exhibition spaces to fit our needs will make for a better visiting and viewing experience for collectors, curators, artists and the art-loving public.&rdquo;

Speh also noted that the group had been looking at properties for about a year. The leases were set to expire soon on their current spaces and their landlords offered to move them into a building on Chicago Avenue that had been recently acquired. The four galleries will be moving into the second floor of 1709 W Chicago, along with David Salkin Creative, which specializes in custom rugs, tile patterns, wallpaper and fabric.

<img alt="" data-caption="1709 W Chicago Avenue, the new location for four Chicago galleries" data-rich-file-id="1563" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1563/original/chicagoavenue.jpg" />

The new building is located west of Ashland Avenue at N Paulina Street. Nearby galleries on Chicago Avenue&nbsp;include Matthew Rachman Gallery and The Mission.

Western Exhibitions has been at its location in the West Loop since 2008. The gallery, which currently has concurrent shows by Deb Sokolow and Dan Attoe on display, features rotating exhibitions by artists working in all media. The gallery also produces artist books and multiples through WesternXeditions.

During a call on October 26, Aron Gent, owner of DOCUMENT, also shared his enthusiasm for the move. He said that the new hardwood floors, drywall, and furnaces would be step up in scale and quality for DOCUMENT, which represents artists working in film, photography and media-based work. The gallery, which opened in 2011, also functions as a printmaking studio.

<img alt="" data-caption="Laura Letinsky and John Paul Morabito, &lt;i&gt;vereVereAslipFlowers&amp;haneemoon(payforthelie)&lt;/i&gt;, 2016, Cotton and wool, 41&quot; x 71&quot;" data-rich-file-id="1509" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1509/original/laura-letinsky-and-john-paul-morabito-verevereaslipflowers-26haneemoon-payforthelie-2c-2016.jpg" />

For the first exhibition in the new space, Gent will present abstract tapestries by collaborators Laura Letinsky and John Paul Morabito. One of the works from this series was recently on display at <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2016/9/digital-collage-meditations-on-migration-gnawed-paper-highlights-from-expo-chicago-2016">DOCUMENT&rsquo;s booth at EXPO Chicago</a>. The exhibition is scheduled to open Saturday, January 7 alongside Annie Bielski at Paris London Hong Kong, Wunderkammer at Volume Gallery, and Underlying system not known at Western Exhibitions.

Read the full press release <a href="http://us14.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ba2e9a9ea20d09514f4eda22a&amp;id=21a96f5735&amp;e=11fc4bbaba">here</a>.

Top image: Deb Sokolow,&nbsp;Men, installation view,&nbsp;September 17-November 5, 2016 at Western Exhibitions. Photo by James Prinz.

Four Chicago galleries are moving from the West Loop to the Ukrainian Village.

DOCUMENT, Paris London Hong Kong, Volume Gallery and Western Exhibitions to Relocate to Ukrainian Village Neighborhood

On August 19, <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/galleries/richard-gray-gallery">Richard Gray Gallery</a> announced an exhibition of new work by Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates. <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/calendar/theaster-gates-heavy-sketches">Heavy Sketches</a> opens September 30&nbsp;and will be on display through November 20. The exhibition features a series of&nbsp;bronze sculptures inspired by Ogoni, Dan, Baule, and Bamana ritual masks.&nbsp;While Gates is very active both locally and internationally, the gallery&nbsp;noted that the exhibition was the artist&rsquo;s first in Chicago since&nbsp;<a href="https://mcachicago.org/Exhibitions/2013/Theaster-Gates-13th-Ballad">13th Ballad</a>, which was on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2013.&nbsp;

During a call on August 23, Paul Gray confirmed that the gallery is&nbsp;now representing Theaster Gates. He noted that they have had a&nbsp;long friendship with the artist and are looking forward to presenting future exhibitions together.&nbsp;Gates previously curated an exhibition of work by artists from the Black Artists Retreat in 2014 that was held conjointly at Richard Gray Gallery and Valerie Carberry Gallery. The exhibition featured the work of Derrick Adams, Erika Allen, Elizabeth Axtman, Bethany Collins, Tony Lewis, Kelly Lloyd, Valerie Piraino, Mitchell Squire, Wilmer Wilson IV, and Nate Young with a essay contribution by Romi Crawford. Gates recently hosted the fourth annual Black Artists Retreat in Chicago&nbsp;on August 20-22.

Gates is currently represented by White Cube in London and Regen Project in Los Angeles. Previously, he was represented by Kavi Gupta in Chicago.&nbsp;Along with his forthcoming exhibition at Richard Gray Gallery, the artist is also organizing a series of performances at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. He recently joined the museum&#39;s board as a trustee, and the series will be his first contribution to the museum. The first performance titled &quot;The Runners&quot; will feature Gates&#39; own experimental music group,&nbsp;The Black Monks of Mississippi, alongside students from Howard University and will take place on September 21.

For more information about the upcoming exhibition at Richard Gray Gallery&nbsp;visit: <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/calendar/theaster-gates-heavy-sketches">Theaster Gates: Heavy Sketches</a>.&nbsp;

Top image: Theaster Gates, Untitled work in progress for upcoming exhibition&nbsp;Heavy Sketches&nbsp;at Richard Gray Gallery, September 20-November 30, 2016.&nbsp;

Richard Gray Gallery announced an exhibition of new work by artist Theaster Gates.

Theaster Gates to Exhibit at Richard Gray Gallery for the First Time

When the news arrived Friday that Prince had died suddenly at age 57, everyone had at least one personal memory to share about listening to a favorite song back in the day or maybe even catching a surprise performance in recent years. From Sesame Street performances to over-the-top Super Bowl half time performances, Prince was creative everywhere. And much like David Bowie, whom we lost just a few months ago, he blurred the lines between music, performance and visual art.&nbsp;

If you&#39;re looking to raise a glass and a dance move to Prince in Chicago, on Friday, &nbsp;May 6 from 7-11pm,&nbsp;the MCA will honor Prince at its Prime Time happening

The theme will be&nbsp;&ldquo;Purple&rdquo; to celebrate the life, music, and legacy of&nbsp;Prince. The evening now includes a&nbsp;special tribute performance by Chicago-based funk and soul artist&nbsp;avery r. young&nbsp;who, together with his nine-piece band, will perform a spectrum of Prince works. Tickets to Prime Time are&nbsp;$20 at the door and $15 in advance. Tickets&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://mcachicago.org">mcachicago.org</a>.&nbsp;MCA Prime Time is a 21+ event.

&nbsp;

Below are links to some of our favorite art-related Prince tributes and write-ups (plus an old favorite from the Muppets...)

<a href="https://news.artnet.com/people/prince-home-to-become-museum-481883#.Vx-Ot8EKXtU.twitter">Prince&#39;s $6.6-Million Minnesota Home Will Become a Museum for Fans</a>

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="1096" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1096/medium/paisley-park-prince.jpg" />

<a href="http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1384637/innocence-and-experience-the-image-of-prince">Innocence and Experience: The Image of Prince</a>

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="1098" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1098/medium/purplerain1.jpg" />

<a href="http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1384780/how-prince-the-artist-formerly-known-as-unpronounceable">How Prince, The Artist Formerly Known as Unpronounceable Symbol, Changed Design</a>

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="1095" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1095/medium/prince-logo.jpg" />

Muppets Tonight - Featuring&nbsp;The Artist Formerly Known As Prince

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cgYEsfBuHoo" width="420"></iframe>

&nbsp;

The Art World Misses Prince

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) announced yesterday that Jos&eacute;&nbsp;Esparza Chong Cuy has been appointed the Pamela Alper Associate Curator. Esparza most recently held the position of Associate Curator the Museo Jumex in Mexico City.

Chief Curator&nbsp;Michael Darling commented, &quot;With our longstanding interest in art from Latin America, we now have in Jos&eacute; an articulate advocate for presenting the best work being made in that region. Mexico City is one of the most exciting cities in the world for contemporary art, and Jos&eacute;&#39;s deep knowledge of that scene will immediately enrich our dialogues here at the MCA. Jos&eacute; is also active in architecture and design circles and that knowledge, alongside his expertise in contemporary art, will find a natural fit here at the MCA where we regularly venture out into parallel fields of activity. I think he will immediately become a great asset to our community.&quot;

Previously, Esparza was a Curatorial Associate at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York and a Research Fellow at the&nbsp;New Museum for Contemporary Art. In 2012, he received a MS in Critical, Curatorial, and Conceptual Practices in Architecture from Columbia University. He received his bachelor&#39;s degree in architecture from the Western Institute of Technology and High Education in Guadalajara, Mexico. He will start his new position at the MCA on April 18, 2016.&nbsp;

<img alt="" data-caption="José Esparza Chong Cuy, Photo: Camila Cossio." data-rich-file-id="1035" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1035/original/esparza-1.jpg" />

Top Image:&nbsp;MCA Building exterior at night. Photo: Peter McCullough, &copy;MCA Chicago.

José Esparza Chong Cuy Appointed Associate Curator at MCA Chicago

This week (April 7-9)&nbsp;UIC will host Latino Art Now! 5th Biennial Conference. The three-day event is organized by the Inter-University Program for Latino Research at UIC and the Smithsonian Latino Center.

<blockquote>
The Latino Art Now! Conference is the leading national forum for artists, art historians, art professionals, educators, scholars, critics and art dealers. The Fifth Biennial Latino Art Now! Re-imagining Global Intersections Conference in Chicago will examine the contemporary shifting contours of US Latino art and the (trans) national and global cultural forces that continuously shape it and how it in turn shapes these forces.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

The opening reception will take place Thursday April 7 from 6-8pm at the National Museum of Mexican Art and will feature a performance by&nbsp;Michael De Anda Mu&ntilde;iz,&nbsp;Amanda Cortes,&nbsp;Silvia In&eacute;s,&nbsp;Gibran, and Margarita Lizcano Hernandez.

Following the reception, ACRE will host an informal evening of conversations around Latinx art and artists. Attendees are welcome to give 2-3 minute slide presentations of their work or the work of others.

For more information about the conference visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://iuplr.uic.edu/iuplr/latino-art-now">iuplr.uic.edu/iuplr/latino-art-now</a>

UIC Hosts Latino Art Now! 5th Biennial Conference.

UIC Hosts Latino Art Now! 5th Biennial Conference

Ann Goldstein, who has previously held&nbsp;positions&nbsp;at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and&nbsp;The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), has been appointed as the new Deputy Director, and Chair and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. This is a newly created position, and Goldstein will be the first one to occupy it. She will be transitioning to her new position starting March 28 and will assume full responsibility on September 1, 2016.

Goldstein began her career as a research assistant at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) more than thirty years ago. She stated, &quot;I am extremely excited and thoroughly honored to assume this role&mdash;and truly a &#39;dream job&#39;&mdash;to work together with my colleague James [Rondeau], as well as the museum&rsquo;s esteemed staff and family, to the further the mission of this magnificent and beloved encyclopedic institution and foster the growth of its highly respected modern and contemporary art program...Chicago has remained close to my heart as a remarkable cultural and philanthropic community filled with dear friends and brilliant artists and colleagues who have constantly awed and inspired me.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Goldstein was a Senior Curator at MOCA, where she worked for more than 26 years, from 1983-2009. Recently, she was Director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, where she oversaw the reopening of the museum after nine years of renovations.

Along with her new position of Deputy Director, she will be replacing James Rondeau as the Chair and&nbsp;Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Rondeau was recently appointed President and Director of the Art Institute of Chicago after Douglas Druick stepped down.

For more information visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.artic.edu/sites/default/files/press/2016/Goldstein_PressRelease_FINAL.pdf">Ann Goldstein to Join the Art Institute of Chicago as New Deputy Director, and Chair and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art</a>

<img alt="" data-caption="Ann Goldstein. © Albrecht Fuchs, Cologne" data-rich-file-id="1030" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1030/original/ag-pressrelease-small.jpg" />

Ann Goldstein has been appointed as the new Deputy Director, and Chair and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Ann Goldstein Joins Art Institute of Chicago as New Deputy Director and Curator 

<a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/art-services/expo-chicago">EXPO CHICAGO</a> announced two curators for their annual exposition taking place&nbsp;September 22-25, 2016&nbsp;at Navy Pier. Diana Nawai, associate curator at the&nbsp;P&eacute;rez Art Museum Miami, will curate IN/SITU and Daria de Beauvais, curator at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, was selected as the curator of EXPO VIDEO. IN/SITU typically features large-scale installations that fill the exposition&#39;s large hall. Alongside these works will be de Beauvais&#39; selections of videos presented in a variety of formats.

President and director Tony Karman noted,&nbsp;&ldquo;Our IN/SITU and EXPO VIDEO programming continues to receive broad critical acclaim, offering curated sections of large-scale sculptures, installations and groundbreaking video and new media work.&nbsp;It is a great privilege to be working closely with Diana Nawi and Daria de Beauvais to shape these important core programs&mdash;both represent dynamic cultural institutions and are two of the most important curatorial voices working today. Additionally, we continue to support our exhibiting dealers and the artists being presented by inviting national and international curators to attend the exposition as a part of our Curatorial Forum.&rdquo;

Last year, Louis Grachos held the position of curator for IN/SITU and Alfredo Cramerotti was the EXPO VIDEO curator.

For more information visit: <a href="http://expochicago.com/sites/default/files/2016%20Curatorial%20Announcement%20_0.pdf">2016 Curatorial Announcement</a>

<img alt="" data-caption="Diana Nawi" data-rich-file-id="1000" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1000/original/diana-20nawi.jpg" />

<img alt="" data-caption="Daria de Beauvais" data-rich-file-id="1001" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/1001/original/daria-20de-20beauvais.jpg" />

EXPO CHICAGO Announces Curators for IN/SITU and EXPO VIDEO

BY THOMAS MASTERS

In September 2015 Chicago lost one its great &quot;Aristo-Democrats,&quot; Michael Weinstein.

There are a few blowhards&nbsp;and bullies in this town who claim to be the champions of the &quot;underdog artist.&quot; &nbsp;They&nbsp;criticize galleries and institutions for&nbsp;insensitivity and abuses to those artists and they&nbsp;seem to be forever sought out by the press for their well worn opinions. They believe this somehow advances an artist&#39;s&nbsp;struggles, that tired&nbsp;rhetoric somehow makes them heroic.&nbsp;For the most part it is&nbsp;self serving and provincial.

Michael Weinstein simply described them as&nbsp;&quot;the bitter ones...&quot;

His approach?&nbsp; He helped artists to understand their work in ways that they themselves did not&nbsp;consider or comprehend, and&nbsp;he did this over lengthy conversations in galleries, while standing in front of the works, going piece by piece with the the artist or gallerist. He&nbsp;wrote reviews, catalog essays and critiques that were insightful and generous in spirit. He attended hundreds of exhibitions around the city,&nbsp;praising both galleries and artists, and&nbsp;encouraging and inspiring those who engaged him in conversation. He may have been the most intelligent writer about art in this city,&nbsp;and yet, except for his photo reviews in New City,&nbsp; his contributions were somewhat overlooked and he was seldom asked by the media in Chicago to comment on major art events. Often the&nbsp;media selected the same, tired voices.&nbsp;In this regard, Michael&#39;s enormous intelligence and advanced intellect&nbsp;in all aspects of art and life were overlooked.

<img alt="" data-caption="&quot;This Side of the Mountain&quot; part 1, (The Dance) artistic and musical collaboration between Michael Weinstein and Thomas Masters" data-rich-file-id="989" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/989/original/screen-20shot-202016-01-21-20at-202-09-02-20pm.jpg" />

I have talked to numerous people who claim to be his best friend and confidant.&nbsp;He had a special gift for making one feel like his relationship with you entitled you to believe it to be so.

Michael could talk to anybody. He could convey the most complex ideas about art, life and philosophy,&nbsp;and he would&nbsp;make the&nbsp;listener understand it all in a simple and profound way.

He could&nbsp;make&nbsp;you feel less alone in the world.

Some afternoons he would visit my gallery, and we would talk for hours over beer and french fries and walk through the exhibitions and discuss the work on display.

I will miss those times with him.

- TM

&nbsp;

Top image:&nbsp;One of many great moments with Michael and his wife Deena.

Memorial about Michael Weinstein from gallery owner Thomas Masters

A Tribute to Michael Weinstein

<img alt="" data-rich-file-id="983" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/983/original/getimage-aspx.jpeg" />

Lois Weisberg did more in a day than most people could try to do in a month.

She was head of the City of Chicago&#39;s Department of Cultural Affairs under two mayors, Harold Washington and Richard Daley, for the better part of 30 years, until she steppeddown in 2011. She started Cows on Parade (now replicated in many forms in cities around the world) and co-founded the Block 37 Arts program (now After School Matters) with the late Maggie Daley. We have her to thank for the Blues Festival, the Gospel Festival, the Taste of Chicago, Friends of the Parks and much more. She helped make the Cultural Center the Cultural Center&nbsp;(it used to be the Chicago&nbsp;Public Library) and she championed scores of Chicago artists and creatives while advocating for free programs for the public.&nbsp;

Lois Weisberg not only made culture count in Chicago - she showed how critical a strong arts scene is to a thriving city&#39;s&nbsp;economy, global reputation and to our every day lives. Though she will certainly be missed, her many efforts and accomplishments live on.

Here are several write-ups about the one-of-a-kind Lois Weisberg:

&bull; Malcolm Gladwell&#39;s Famous 1999 New Yorker Profile:&nbsp;<a href="http://gladwell.com/six-degrees-of-lois-weisberg/">Six-Degrees of Lois Weisberg</a>

&bull;&nbsp;Tribune - Chris Jones:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-lois-weisberg-was-more-than-a-connector-ae-0117-20160114-column.html">The remarkable Lois Weisberg</a>

&bull;&nbsp;Tribune - Rick Kogan:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-lois-weisberg-dead-was-chicago-arts-chief-for-daley-20160114-story.html">Tireless champion of city&#39;s cultural life</a>

&bull;&nbsp;Sun Times:&nbsp;<a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1251831/legendary-landmark-lois-weisberg">Lois Weisberg, &#39;den mother of the arts&#39;</a>

&bull;&nbsp;Chicago Reader: <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/01/14/lois-weisberg-rest-in-peace-doesnt-cut-it">Lois Weisberg:&nbsp;Rest in peace doesn&#39;t cut it</a>

&nbsp;

Top image: Chicago Tribune, Lois Weisberg

Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg Dead at 90

Lois Weisberg Has Died at Age of 90 - Former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs 

Chicago Gallery News&nbsp;is sad to share the news that Sidney Block, co-director of Printworks Gallery for thirty-five years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 25&nbsp;with his co-director and close friend Bob Hiebert at his side.&nbsp;

The gallery&#39;s 35th anniversary show, <a href="http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/calendar/return-of-the-exquisite-corpse-35th-anniversary-exhibition">The Return of the Exquisite Corpse</a>, opens this Friday, December 4. Plans for this special exhibition began two years ago, and the show&nbsp;will feature 35 works with contributions from 105 artists.

Sidney and Bob have been warm neighbors to CGN over the years in River North, and we&nbsp;congratulate the gallery&nbsp;on 35 wonderful years of business, terrific exhibitions, and true friendship.&nbsp;Our hearts go out to our dear friends at Printworks Gallery during this difficult time. Sidney will be missed by many.&nbsp;

A memorial service is pending.

<a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=sidney-block&amp;pid=176718120&amp;fhid=16222.">Obituary</a>

<img alt="" data-caption="&lt;i&gt;Sidney Block&lt;/i&gt;" data-rich-file-id="892" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/chigal/rich/rich_files/rich_files/892/original/sidney-block.gif" />

Top image: December 2005 from the Chicago Reader&#39;s article, <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-odd-couple/Content?oid=920721">The Odd Couple</a>:&nbsp;

<blockquote class="pull-right">Bob Hiebert and Sidney Block have been in business together longer than many people have been married, and as with many couples their friends tend to think of them as inseparable--Sid and Bob, Bob and Sid. It&#39;s been 25 years since they opened Printworks, still the city&#39;s only gallery dedicated exclusively to works on paper--contemporary prints, drawings, artists&#39; books, and the occasional painting or photograph. For the past 15--five days a week, nearly every week of the year--they&#39;ve sat on opposite sides of a single desk in their cramped, 600-square-foot space in River North...</blockquote>

Sidney Block: A True Friend

Well-known member of Chicago&#39;s art community, Rodolfo &quot;Rudy&quot; Avi&ntilde;a, owner of <a href="http://creativoframing.com/">Creativo Framing</a> in River North, was tragically killed on May 30, 2015. A <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/31/prosecutors-jealous-knifeman-slit-rudy-avinas-throat-in-pilsen-bar/">senseless crime</a> was committed in the&nbsp;Pilsen neighborhood that Rudy called home, and where he spent much time giving back to the community.&nbsp;

Rudy established relationships with many local artists, galleries, and museums through his professional framing business and his various artistic and collegial&nbsp;collaborations throughout the city.&nbsp;

Chicago Gallery News has worked with Rudy for much of his 20 years in the framing business, and we will remember him as a cheerful, kind neighbor. Our hearts go out to his friends and family. He will be missed by many.&nbsp;

A memorial service for Avina is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at 7pm&nbsp;at Citlalin Gallery,&nbsp;2005 S. Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, IL.&nbsp;

Top image courtesy of the National Museum of Mexican Art&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Remembering-Rudy/778926992214832?sk=timeline">Remembering Rudy Facebook Page</a>. Raquel Agui&ntilde;aga-Martinez of the&nbsp;NMMA writes &quot;On behalf of the Visual Arts / Permanent Collection departments at the Museo (NMMA) please accept our most sincere condolences. Even though Rudy was not a staff member, he was a valued part of our team for over 20 years. He was one of the few people in Pilsen who understood all the love and work it takes to put up an exhibition. He knew of the challenges and sometimes personal sacrifices that this kind of job requires. Rudy was one of the few non-staff members that we fully trusted when it came to caring for the Permanent Collection.&quot;

- - - - - -

<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/w3ugwy4">Rudy&#39;s Light Outshines the Darkness</a> - gofundme.com donations will help cover family and funeral expenses.&nbsp;

- - - - - -&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150602/pilsen/remembering-rudy-avina-he-found-way-connect-with-you">Remembering Rudy Avina: &#39;He Found a Way to Connect with You&#39;</a>&nbsp;- DNAinfo

<a href="http://extranews.net/pillar-of-pilsen-community-killed-over-the-weekend.html">Pillar of Pilsen Community Killed Over the Weekend</a>&nbsp;- Extranews.net