<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419408/omd9p2ktifwadzjdkbw7.jpg"><figcaption>Pictured:&nbsp;The Lovers Dance&nbsp;by Yvette Mayorga, photo courtesy of Millennium Park Foundation &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>By CGN Staff via PRMillennium Park's 20th anniversary celebrations continue this week with a very 2024 announcement about installations that bring art to the public via augmented reality. Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Millennium Park Foundation announced new temporary public art installations coming to the Park, including physical works by one of the world’s most recognized sculptors, Franz West, as well as world by Chicago-based artists Claire Ashley, Faheem Majeed, Yvette Mayorga and Carlos Rolón.&nbsp;While the Park's famous Cloud Gate was recently reopened following a 20th anniversary facelift, just in time for a record number of summer selfies, the news of innovative augmented reality works in Millennium Park by Ashley, Majeed, Mayorga and Rolón is sure to send visitors and their smartphones into overdrive. The works will be on view throughout Millennium Park now through November 2025. West’s sculptures will be on view in the South Boeing Gallery starting the week of July 22nd through November 2025.Located on both the north and south ends of Millennium Park, the Boeing Galleries house temporary modern and contemporary art exhibitions where visitors can directly experience the work and expressions of current artists. In the 20 years since the Park’s opening, the Boeing Galleries have featured artworks by Chakaia Booker, Yvonne Domenge, Jun Kaneko, Edra Soto, and Christine Tarkowski, among others. The cost of exhibition curation and management is underwritten by Millennium Park Foundation using funds from private donors.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419409/uofeadhjni36rwsr1mu5.png"><figcaption>Claire Ashley, N O M A D I C&nbsp; F L U O R A T I C&nbsp; P H Y L O S I A N&nbsp; S P A W N, 2024&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;“Since Millennium Park opened 20 years ago, the Park has been a unique showcase for Chicago’s flourishing public art scene, attracting visitors from across the globe to see works that celebrate the soul of Chicago and its people,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “Art can inspire, challenge and bring joy, and these new temporary installations, including for the first time works viewed via augmented reality, will give everyone visiting Millennium Park this summer an unforgettable experience.”“For the first time our curated Boeing exhibition will span both space and time,” said Donna LaPietra, Chair and President of the Millennium Park Foundation Board of Directors. “In celebration of the Park’s 20th anniversary, we wanted to showcase both large-scale public art works alongside pioneering augmented reality works of Chicago-based artists, creating a dynamic fusion of traditional and innovative public art experiences throughout the Park. These exhibitions highlight Millennium Park’s commitment to making art accessible and interactive, offering visitors a unique and immersive cultural experience. We invite everyone to join us in this remarkable journey and witness a year of firsts for the 20th Anniversary season.”Viewers of the augmented reality works will need to use the free Hoverlay app, available in the Apple AppStore or Google PlayStore, as well as an augmented reality-capable device running iOS 14 or later or Android 8.0 or later.For information about Millennium Park exhibitions, art and architecture, the 20th Anniversary Celebration and more, visit <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.CSSunAOBvEOR4GhykBjJWWnTwxFlkUDDBF-2Fji248p2y6hFXsBorvoCC9fZuH5e36f75VCxaJvIMcUVrPB-2B9jDhS87cZAc-2BmLX0q2ReeRRkhm2GDgx5hGZvJkSZKsYWhEJESh_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN2htsLqOnV28cTjbNPU0LQaAR7i0-2FTDQ2uQQMHQ1gTYbZNYuZjCzevUeyDyw7HyxHLcur44-2F63-2FUYmoBTlz-2FTpOQvCtSvQjEZ8xXQtwLwM1-2FzBopy3iPpVtI3XDmAN10hCXhzqluVCeXV5jurUsJ-2BwhXZE1vY7-2FrKA8nWSyXx6G9w-3D-3D">millenniumpark.org</a>Read CGN's feature on Millennium Park's anniversary <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2024/6/20-years-of-drawing-the-world-to-chicago-millennium-park">here</a>.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419410/t6h6shz3jmuvclwr6d2x.jpg"><figcaption>Franz West</figcaption></figure>The new installations are:Franz West: Millennium Park features three monumental installations by West: Stonehenge (2011), Kugeln (Balls) (2002), and Dorit (2002), set against the iconic backdrop of Millennium Park. On view starting the week of July 22ndStonehenge, with its playful, abstract forms, invites viewers to engage physically and imaginatively, while Kugeln (Balls) presents three individual brightly hued spherical sculptures that disrupt conventional expectations of balance and form. Dorit, characterized by its organic shapes and vibrant colors, further exemplifies West's unique approach to sculpture, blending humor and a sense of the surreal with profound artistic statements.Emerging in the early 1970s, Austrian artist West (1947-2012) developed a unique aesthetic that engaged equally high and low reference points and often privileged social interaction as an intrinsic component of his work. While he was known primarily as a sculptor, his body of work incorporated drawing, collage, video, and installation, using papier-mâché, furniture, cardboard, plaster, found imagery, and other diverse materials. West is celebrated for his ability to merge sculpture with everyday life, transforming public spaces into interactive art environments. His work challenges traditional perceptions of art, emphasizing the importance of viewer interaction and the integration of art into daily experience.&nbsp;More information about West at <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.dh1HrHFyOntfOcUtuUd3tcMbQXbKg02VZhNs5YVTouQX5JnzCVDUNwytQ-2FJu2oo3Y1iD_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN3xnPXC8xeItC2je-2FTSkYAPK8dHF3WWDBeuP4WZ7EGne1P4OlWBn8wSuj6kbZIHZmGxn2ug6B6o-2FcyZPTRWuog8xXH9CsVWa7zU0hHfu7P8YcDpCZH5OZBfpl5vwP72NluV6PmVj4ztB64mBD8DALnnF8Yb7s-2F8qLFBS8B-2Bg-2BJLew-3D-3D">archivfranzwest.org</a>. &nbsp;Augmented Chicago: Inaugural Realities&nbsp;(on view now through November 2025)Augmented Chicago: Inaugural Realities showcases the innovative works of four internationally celebrated Chicago-based artists, Claire Ashley, Faheem Majeed, Yvette Mayorga and Carlos Rolón, pioneering the use of Augmented Reality (AR) for the first time in the vibrant setting of Millennium Park. This exhibition invites visitors to experience a groundbreaking fusion of technology and artistry, transforming the Park's landscape into a dynamic canvas of digital creativity. By highlighting AR as a new tool and medium in the world of public art, these artists explore new dimensions of interaction, engagement, and expression, offering a fresh perspective on the urban environment.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419411/mts9qzvj9f7u9pctzsvm.png"><figcaption>Carlos Rolón, Ni Aquí, Ni Allá (Neither Here, Nor There), 2024&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>• Carlos RolónNi Aquí, Ni Allá (Neither Here, Nor There), 2024&nbsp;Chicago-born Rolón is celebrated for his multidisciplinary artistic approach, exploring themes such as craft, ritual, beauty, identity, and their intersections with art history. With roots in Puerto Rican heritage, Rolón's background fuels his exploration of personal concepts, blending self-examination with rich cultural symbolism. This synthesis fosters community engagement and blurs the boundaries between public and private spheres, providing viewers a bridge to connect with the broader cultural narrative.Through Ni Aquí, Ni Allá (Neither Here, Nor There), viewers are invited to experience a transformative oasis inspired by the vibrant spirit of Puerto Rico. By blending both the digital art and physical elements within the park, Rolón creates a sanctuary amidst the urban landscape—a space where people can pause, rejuvenate, and connect with nature. Inspired by the vibrant landscape, atmosphere, and sounds of Puerto Rico, this installation features tiled benches, the gentle melodies of the coqui (small frog), a cascading waterfall, and botanical elements that collectively capture the essence of the island. Through the harmonious interplay of virtual and tangible elements, visitors are transported into a dynamic environment, inviting them to embark on a sensory journey of immersion and exploration.More information about Rolón at <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.dh1HrHFyOntfOcUtuUd3tfxrid7Jl-2BAGW2emu1ms4tS0j6mNazw4VTG-2FVrsU-2BM-2B-2BvGHO_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN3COmKlIPu82SNhReSTRasQPCSkXF78F6CI0jXIiToLeqqFPFbEhck7QqZwwRaMnHmuN-2Bk6V83aJwG6uWLnJuqUxb9Rdamm69yz2p1GDX0qQLHe5NwkVFkgjNiHYnPLxzutcywcJjQeSZAWPCna-2B-2BOdPwDb9TFU-2BlgDUIwDFukiYA-3D-3D">carlosrolon.com</a>. &nbsp;• Yvette MayorgaThe Lovers Dance, 2024Mayorga is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist known for her Rococo-inspired reliefs that merge confectionary labor with found images to explore themes of belonging. Dominated by the color pink, Mayorga celebrates femme power while questioning the allure of consumer culture and the American Dream as a first-generation Latinx.The Lovers Dance is Mayorga’s first augmented reality public work. Drawing from the stories and shapes of her intricately piped paintings and public installations, Mayorga creates an immersive, interactive experience that reflects her signature feminine world-building. In The Lovers Dance, she explores themes of belonging and love by depicting two dancers emerging from the sky, set against a backdrop of piped frosted clouds reminiscent of a theatrical play.More information about Mayorga can be found at <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.dh1HrHFyOntfOcUtuUd3teMddG6RZu47bg0FHBslqB3zOcGtPvcUKpFNnIvXYwx8GFBc_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN1QkuiIOSSouImE-2FfnUfnPtDVjEqAvLT7P3-2FDBMMAg1-2FAsJrkdDG-2BdDWqID3bsuFvRIRfg-2BnBpSIR2JhRLGyw-2BqkTqX1cYz-2Bnv8Qn55eR9MXDhigi7wg1hopKCPv3SOsnEmipoa-2BEHzGf51FRM-2B0CLbM6u7bnaPUMj9bU2I6v4Drw-3D-3D">yvettemayorga.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;• Claire Ashley with audioscape by Joshua Patterson&nbsp;N O M A D I C&nbsp; F L U O R A T I C&nbsp; P H Y L O S I A N&nbsp; S P A W N, 2024&nbsp;Scottish born, Chicago-based artist Ashley mines the language of painterly abstraction, monumental sculpture, and slapstick humor to investigate inflatables as painting, sculpture, installation and performance costume. Currently a teacher at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, museums, site-specific installations, and performances events.In N O M A D I C&nbsp; F L U O R A T I C&nbsp; P H Y L O S I A N&nbsp; S P A W N, viewers encounter four apparitions, experienced here over one calendar year, responding to the shifting seasonal color palette of Millennium Park’s Lurie Gardens.<ul><li>Spring: A single apparition grows. The mother form stretches and elongates, birthing its spawn, grumbling as it spits them out.</li><li>Summer: Multiple apparitions vibrate. The mother and spawn sway, float, shudder, vibrate, spin, roll, and feast, bubbling and boiling in a whirling dervish-like motion.</li><li>Fall: The apparitions slow down. The mother and spawn merge, clicking back together into a new lumpier formation.</li><li>Winter: A single apparition hibernates. It snores, snuggles, stretches, and yawns. Crystalline growths appear, beginning the regeneration process for spring.</li></ul>More information about Ashley at <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.dh1HrHFyOntfOcUtuUd3tXtY-2FA45pKDUEqOa6dl823MBFh4tKQMUmCyLT7aRvsg-2FwBBx_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN1RR9hZodOZMUBACldOhaHvlQEUnap4mH2-2B-2FJmThjH1OzSMPRkwZgSkcYzmv62yD9H0Dd2-2BvFlJhJFzpHat6eSpG3-2Bw2Nf1GbYlCWi-2BrUODKpDdgPcRqO9-2FNB-2FcO7dzzgAjZjTvBv-2BwcO82m1W3GC5H0-2FmKWoOrf9aBu1nnUI4OVQ-3D-3D">clairehelenashley.com</a>.&nbsp;• Faheem MajeedFreedom’s Stand: Sentries Beacon, 2024Faheem Majeed is a professor of art at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as an artist, curator, and community facilitator. He blends his uniqueexperience as a non-profit administrator and artist to create works that focus on institutional critique and exhibitions that leverage collaboration to engage his immediate, and the broader community, in meaningful dialogue.Freedom’s Stand: Sentries Beacon is an homage to the pioneering spirit of Black newspapers in the United States, drawing on the legacy of community-generated news and self-representation. Inspired by the historical impact of Freedom’s Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper founded in 1827, this augmented reality sculpture highlights the importance of Black voices in media. Combining elements from Chicago’s Wall of Respect, the Community Mural Movement, and traditional West African Dogon architecture, Freedom’s Stand creates a rich cultural tapestry.Freedom’s Stand: Sentries Beacon features three dynamic augmented reality newspaper stand sculptures that grow into towering structures and shrink back into smaller stands, symbolizing the evolving nature of Black media. The design, reminiscent of traditional newsstands integrated with Dogon granary aesthetics, creates a living archive. These sculptures showcase a curated collection of headlines, articles, and advertisements from 209 Black newspapers, ensuring the work remains dynamic and ever-changing. This project underscores the importance of celebrating diverse voices in media, ensuring they inform and inspire future generations.More information at <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.dh1HrHFyOntfOcUtuUd3tZDx5biPr4fme-2FswAGqgwnbF0hRdpJcbMrZcFE-2BG-2FOsP8J8h_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoLurliSnTAPDeTMjcpIoytOOx4olIMMV-2FUlia6rP-2BnJx0I4OPOXnhPjZIaJSLRJZFG5xhXwwILhaQGVeG4K6AGZz-2Fr1bBk1UIAZZGQ2GnX42TIOjpzDzYPLrJdjHJVUDTObIaEpHnaqMqR-2FJ-2BjjrTN30BvpetB-2Bej0VzsGFhA1sdf8NSajUL4ZGnWM-2BOP49IsIQTEaPaBe4zI-2FeZDhxGJKPpfYuhMQ3Tz4OpXOT8NoxDawXDYwSH3E0zWF0oJIAqA2LHAfm6yStNwP2SdwKI2Fa3kiHVaspSufIKMa95eRGtNoYnfn1bfJCpxYEm0ZXD4Q-3D-3D">faheemmajeed.com</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

Augmented Reality + Art Come to Millennium Park 

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/tzkjybz2oyod7wuqh6g3.jpg"><figcaption>Leon Granacki</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://classicchicagomagazine.com/an-artist-goes-to-war/">An Artist Goes to War</a>“My father died in 1993.&nbsp; The day after new tenants moved into his old flat, I got an excited call:&nbsp; ‘We have found something of your dad’s and I think you’ll want to see it right away.’ I made a mad dash to Keeler Avenue and as I burst in, they immediately handed me Most Secret: Memoirs of a Doughboy’s Past, the visual diary he began when he landed on Guadalcanal November 11, 1943.&nbsp; The precious little book had gotten shoved to the back end of the tallest shelf in my old bedroom closet.&nbsp; As I gingerly thumbed through the pages, I entered the life of my father the soldier—a life he had kept most secret from all of us.” –Victoria Granacki, author of An Artist Goes to War:&nbsp; Leon Granacki in the South Pacific WWII.&nbsp;Via Classic ChicagoNote: CGN interviewed Ms Granacki and her late husband Lee Wesley back in 2019. <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2019/5/stewards-of-art-and-history-the-expansive-collection-of-lee-wesley-and-vicki-granacki">Read the collector profile here.</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/thtrrbgtibsthddyoq3z.jpg"><figcaption>The Brauer Museum of Art at Indiana's Valparaiso University. Photo courtesy of the Brauer Museum of art.</figcaption></figure><a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/valparaiso-university-shutters-brauer-museum-deaccessioning-controversy-2505345">Indiana's Brauer Museum Shutters Amid Deaccessioning Controversy</a>Indiana’s Valparaiso University has shuttered the Brauer Museum of Art and dismissed its director, Jonathan Canning, amid ongoing controversy over the university’s plan to sell three artworks to fund renovations of its freshman dormitories. The school’s president, José Padilla, first notified the school of the possible sale in February 2023, citing a projected $9 million deficit for 2023–2024 and falling enrollment, from 4,500 to less than 2,800 over the past five years.VIa Artnet&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/arissmven4zs9i7mzc6p.jpg"><figcaption>Nicole Eisenman (American, born 1965); 'Beer Garden with A.K.' ; 2009; oil on canvas; overall: 65 x 82 in. (165.1 x 208.3 cm); Private Collection, Switzerland; CI.2013.036. CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART</figcaption></figure><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2024/06/12/stylistic-chameleon-nicole-eisenman-survey-at-mca-chicago/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2FqTi8T-33Yckh_kI9y9FhxNuEsXH7dKfInEoRQwGeN2Luf80iudf60qw_aem_zAkwQIzERBneGFjbg_0GiA">‘Stylistic Chameleon’ Nicole Eisenman Survey At MCA Chicago</a>She can be lewd, crude, and rude. Uproariously funny, inappropriate, or deeply insightful, all at the same time, depending on where you stand.Taking cues from Michelangelo, Baroque painting, German Expressionism, Pop art, comics and soft porn–to name a few–Nicole Eisenman (b. 1965, Verdun, France; lives in Brooklyn, NY) proves difficult to categorize.Via Forbes&nbsp;</body></html>

What We're Reading: 7/1/24

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/zfa1x1foo3hzz4qbfsvx.jpg"><figcaption>The artist Joseph Seigenthaler in his studio&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;By GINNY VAN ALYEAArtist William Joseph Seigenthaler passed away in&nbsp;March. Seigenthaler was an American sculptor and video artist who exhibited his figurative sculpture for over 30 years. His work is included in numerous private collections and in the permanent collections of the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, the Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin, the Flint&nbsp;Institute&nbsp;of Arts, Flint, Michigan and Museo de Escultura Figurativa Internacional Contemporánea, Spain. Seigenthaler also was an influential teacher, having instructed countless art students at the University of Montana – Missoula, Harold Washington College in Chicago, and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Seigenthaler leaves behind his wife of 31 years, painter Anne Gilbert, three daughters,&nbsp;Sarah, Elise and&nbsp;Chloé, his&nbsp;father, William Robert (Bob), siblings, Kate, Delia, Robert, Mary, and Dan and&nbsp;many friends.&nbsp;Seigenthaler was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1959. He earned a BFA in painting from the Memphis College of Art in 1981. Shortly after graduating, he freelanced sculpting life-sized wax figures for wax museums, primarily the Music Valley Wax Museum in Nashville and the Country Music Wax Museum in Tamworth, Australia. He studied ceramic art at the Appalachian Center for Craft in the mid 1980s, and in 1990, he received an MFA from Northern Illinois University. Seigenthaler collaborated on large design projects at the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History and the John G. Shedd Aquarium as well as other institutions. Outside of his work Seigenthaler became an expert at house renovation, completely rebuilding a family storefront. He also continued to be influenced by his hometown of Nashville,&nbsp;playing&nbsp;guitar and honoring his own love of music.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/xglkwia3lx3ffwuavl7t.jpg"><figcaption>Joseph Siegenthaler, Fly Dog</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Betsy Nathan, owner of Pagoda Red and daughter of Ann Nathan, who showed Seigenthaler’s work in her gallery starting in the 1990s, shared with CGN, "I remember when Ann Nathan Gallery received Joe Seigenthaler’s work for his opening in 1996.&nbsp; It was like a community of distorted bodies emerging to startle anyone who couldn’t see his brilliant craft that was obsessive, ceramic, surrealist and realist all at once. As my mom used to say, “If art doesn’t speak to you, it isn’t for you.’&nbsp; Well, I suppose, a bald bust with strange and wide open bloodshot peering eyes spoke to her….and, then, went home with her.&nbsp; This mysterious work remains looking out at all who enter the front door.&nbsp;It startles some and piques the curiosity of all –undeniably pushing boundaries, like great art does."&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/gsjdpchajvgchl6arhca.jpg"><figcaption>An opening for an exhibition of Seigenthaler’s head sculptures.</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Seigenthaler's clay sculptures could be shocking when first encountered, and they left an impression. Seigenthaler was best known for his figurative works, creating realistic emotive faces and contorted bodies in various states, never failing to evoke a viewer's response. Seigenthaler also worked with computer animation loops of his creatures.&nbsp;Seigenthaler's family and friends had so many wonderful things to say about&nbsp;Joe&nbsp;the artist as well as&nbsp;Joe&nbsp;the person and friend.&nbsp;Bryan Schuetze, who met and became friends with Seigenthaler in 1987 at art school, shared at a memorial service this spring, "Joe was an incredible talent and inspired so many artists like myself. I had never met anyone like Joe. He was incredibly kind, generous, open minded, sensitive and very loving. NO one worked harder, and smarter than Joe. He was an expert at everything he wanted to do. This long list includes sculpting wax figures of country music stars in his early years, hand building incredibly powerful and visually arresting ceramic figurative sculpture. He told me he got tired of breathing clay dust and then he self taught himself and became an expert artist at digital media including 3D visualization, animation and sound."&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419403/mdosotgflw2gvda2bs6l.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Elise Seigenthaler, Joseph's middle daughter, shared with friends and family, "Joe poured his entire being into everything he tackled, never settling for less than 100%. Whether it was diving into a project and staying up until its completion or devouring a Costco-sized-box of peanut M&amp;Ms in one sitting, Joe's commitment was stubborn and unwavering.He had a discerning eye and a relentless pursuit for perfection, evident in his sculptures. Through painstaking attention to detail, he transformed clay into lifelike representations, flawlessly capturing even the minutest imperfections. Wrinkles, warts, cellulite, veins, and pores gave his work authenticity, reflecting his commitment to honesty and realism."&nbsp;Elise said that she and her sisters feel lucky to have had parents who could show them a beautiful example of what a loving, unconditional marriage looked like. Her father taught them the importance of following our passions, the value of hard work, and the strength that comes from a loving family.Seigenthaler's passing was too soon. His art and spirit will surely continue for through his memorable works and his family and friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/gjxgjf4gazmtqxd71sap.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Seigenthaler, 1959–2024</figcaption></figure></body></html>

Artist Joe Seigenthaler: 1959–2024

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/f2jchssmu6wislbqjina.jpg"></figure>The open call for<a href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001dKq8ZYAIjOcm76hovqi6nHbqXqb85-H7qcuRL0epbC5RXejY1HzaNqPE3r9fEjXmGnBjLnMQQFLsAAvJrgyn1V9RJl7QbwJr8FKzH_LYaEZMR8uxJFKvQC-tt6B2z6P8ghXTvLfAt2or4xZ9wxmegpgnZlXL-oxnkOVatLCp06phJWkG0G_9mALvqyNpjnckPysno_iIi9QVqm4m2molyJdDwHKeaJvYLi7A3UACU-aAHcbt-CbDqg==&amp;c=p6LsgflNEAXqSqsqTOJlVr7JAfpr3JRl7yO4KEL-HQ05eZ0t2X6eeg==&amp;ch=oatqqfnTZx6YMX76h1Vi3NZSi8khKQoZBYTgwzmWjWU5s-Zir-VeTw=="> Artists Run Chicago Fund </a>2024 is live!Deadline: August 5This unique regranting initiative, designed and administered by Hyde Park Art Center, has provided over one million dollars in support of the artist-run community in Chicago, and we’re still going. Since 2020, the ARC Fund has awarded one hundred and eighteen $8,000 grants to artist-run platforms, infusing Chicago’s contemporary art network with flexible financial support to strengthen their diverse and experimental programs.This year, the&nbsp;Artists Run Chicago Fund&nbsp;(ARC Fund) seeks to award&nbsp;fifteen&nbsp;$8,000 unrestricted grants to artists-run platforms in Chicago. Grantees will be selected through a free, juried, open call.The 2024 Artists Run Chicago Fund is generously supported by the Good Chaos Foundation, the Local South Foundation and The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation.<a href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001dKq8ZYAIjOcm76hovqi6nHbqXqb85-H7qcuRL0epbC5RXejY1HzaNrrmUGhhFg2gr-SiY502vIJkKZ5U0NZmThvdT1exMj9Ku9asuPjjHycJBUTl3q7KyrcPE2hsUrn84_O8KxlIWpOo96AR_GQPLv9tPy-EKYvjqbsZV2UrfAChuwZoWtJ8w-xYiezLyQlfgEJfC0lhn5wXRSMv8sg5vmcWrxQg3wYZFCV49ia-QqqCdEyWLTSevH3zAwm6w8ez&amp;c=p6LsgflNEAXqSqsqTOJlVr7JAfpr3JRl7yO4KEL-HQ05eZ0t2X6eeg==&amp;ch=oatqqfnTZx6YMX76h1Vi3NZSi8khKQoZBYTgwzmWjWU5s-Zir-VeTw==">APPLY NOW</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

Hyde Park Art Center's Artists Run Chicago Fund 2024 is live

<html><head></head><body>By GINNY VAN ALYEAThe Society for Contemporary Art announced two recent acquisitions for the Art Institute of Chicago. The SCA's annual meeting and dinner took place on the evening of June 18 in the museum's Griffin Court. Guests were able to view 6 selections for consideration – three works each from two artists – before gathering for dinner and hearing from AIC curators about the artists and the individual works. SCA members in attendance that evening voted to acquire one work by each artist. The two acquisitions are Farbengeographie [Color Geography] Nr. 4 (1972) by K.P. Brehmer and the second is Returning with Something (2022) by Sung Tieu.&nbsp;Brehmer was born and died in Germany and is considered still an under recognized artist. Tieu was born in 1987 in Vietnam but has spent most of her life in Germany.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/iihdy1beiyupfslcbkvz.jpg"><figcaption>K.P. Brehmer (German, 1938-1997) Farbengeographie [Color geography] Nr. 4, 1972 Table lacquer, lacquer, acrylic on PVC 200.1 × 115 cm (78 3/4 × 45 1/4 in.)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Born in Berlin, Klaus Peter Brehmer trained as a reproduction technologist and, in the early 1960s, studied at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Around this time, he adopted the initials “KP,” both a nod to the then-banned West German Communist Party (KPD) and a playful attempt to complicate an ideological subject position. Rather than becoming a party member, he saw being an artist as a way to be “useful to society.” Brehmer is most frequently discussed alongside his contemporaries Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Konrad Leug, and Wolf Vostell, who were grouped under the banner of Capitalist Realism, a German tendency that sat between Western Pop Art on the one hand and Eastern Socialist Realism on the other.&nbsp; Appropriation remained a central motif in Brehmer’s practice. His work hinged on the subversion of capitalist visual representation approached through politics, economics, science, consumer culture, and everyday life. Diverse in media, technique, and edition, his works share a profoundly democratic concern with the capacity for a viewer’s emancipation through “visual agitation.” Amidst the Cold War’s binary conception of the world, this “sharpening of the senses,” as Brehmer called it, aimed at enabling the viewer to see through ideological constructs and established narratives to unfold competing interpretations. Brehmer died in Hamburg, Germany in 1997.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/hyrugrctbloqjfhuwq33.jpg"><figcaption>Sung Tieu (German, b. 1987) Returning With Something, 2022 Chess-Computer Objects from VEB Funkwerk Erfurt, shoes from Schuhfrabik "Roter Stern" Burg, magazine printed VEB-Interduck Leipzig, stainless steel, suitcase fixings, fabric Work Contract dimensions; each: 32.1 × 23.4 cm (12 11/16 × 9 1/4 in.); 50 × 65.2 × 55.1 cm (19 11/16 × 25 11/16 × 21 11/16 in.)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Working across media, Sung Tieu’s exhibitions meld sculpture, drawing, text, sound and video to investigate the evolving structures and mechanisms of control. Her practice raises questions around equality, belonging and individual sovereignty – often revealing the psychological effects of ideological systems and the politics they engender. Extensive research is set in contrast with an autobiographical query which allows Tieu to simultaneously address the deeply personal as well as the institutionalized structures that frame individual expression and agency. She has examined how social or political control can be imposed through design – be it of office furniture, household goods or bureaucratic paperwork. Mimicking and exploring the present legacy of Modernism – both art historically and more broadly – Tieu reveals it as an organizing force that processes and filters information, often favoring sameness over difference and order over invention.For more information about SCA and to view past acquisitions <a href="https://scaaic.org/acquisitions">click here</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

The Society for Contemporary Art Announces Two Recent Acquisitions for AIC Collection

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/vqisaom4tez8swnr9vdm.jpg"><figcaption>Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate. Photo Patrick L.Pyszka, City of Chicago. &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;By CGN StaffAnish Kapoor's famous public sculpture in Chicago, officially knows as "Cloud Gate" but affectionately known as “The Bean”, is back and ready for the world's fingerprints. The city recently completed renovations to The Bean, which was first unveiled 20 years ago at the opening of Millennium Park. Now the city says that while working to care for the shiny towering work of art they also took advantage of the opportunity to enhance the visitor experience as well as improve and modernize accessibility in the surrounding plaza.&nbsp;"Cloud Gate" is one of <a href="https://www.choosechicago.com/things-to-do/tours-attractions/">Chicago’s most popular sights</a>. The monumental work of art anchors downtown <a href="https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/parks-outdoors/millennium-park-campus/">Millennium Park</a> and reflects the city’s famous skyline and the surrounding green space. Now the 33 foot high, 110 ton sculpture can even help visitors plan their next trip to Chicago with a new <a href="https://www.choosechicago.com/bean/?open=true">interactive, AI-powered tool</a> that&nbsp;Cloud Gate was Kapoor's first permanent public outdoor work in the United States, and is widely considered his most famous.Enjoy reconnecting with this iconic work this summer!&nbsp;Read CGN's feature on the 20th anniversary of Millennium Park <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2024/6/20-years-of-drawing-the-world-to-chicago-millennium-park">here</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

The Bean is Open Again 

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/pwkuwejdiaijhrytt3at.jpg"><figcaption>Naotaka Hiro (Japanese, b. 1972) A Hole in My Stomach, 2024 Stainless steel, steel74 x 25 x 10 inches. Courtesy of the artist and MISAKO &amp; ROSEN, Tokyo Part of Actual Fractals, Act II, Curator: John Riepenhoff. &nbsp;Location: Baird Center, Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI Image courtesy of Michael Lagerman. &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>VIA PRSculpture Milwaukee announced that <a href="https://www.sculpturemilwaukee.com/visit">Actual Fractals, Act II,</a> its 2024-25 and eighth annual free exhibition of works by renowned international artists, is now on view in downtown Milwaukee.&nbsp;A follow up to Actual Fractals, Act I, Sculpture Milwaukee's 2023-24 exhibition, Actual Fractals, Act II extends its thematic interest in monumental public art exploring the interconnections of human beings, nature, animals, and cosmopolitan communities, despite human beings' perceived differences and divisions.Combining a lively, thought-provoking mix of existing works and new pieces commissioned by Sculpture Milwaukee, the exhibition celebrates a new cohort of artists who invite the public to connect and see each other with fresh eyes. “We’ve chosen artists who are committed to breaking down barriers and, in one way or another, describe the complex interconnections between us and the world we live in,” said artist John Riepenhoff, Sculpture Milwaukee's executive director and current guest curator, who organized both acts of Actual Fractals. “Their capacity to help us reflect on how we share space together, in this moment, feels like a revelation.”Spanning a mile of Wisconsin Avenue, AF, Act II features, on a plaza next to the Baird Center, “A Hole in My Stomach” (2024), a new steel figural work by the celebrated Japanese-born, California-based artist Naotaka Hiro. A contemporary response to the historic Japanese movement, Gutai, Hiro focuses on the body and its unknowability. The sculptural work, like his canvases, involve molding material to his body which is akin to a performance. This process requires a tremendous amount of endurance, evidence of which is visible in the piece. A few blocks to the east, across the Milwaukee River, “Abundant” (2024), a cast bronze basket with painted enamel accents by Teresa Baker, invites quiet contemplation of the handicrafts of her Native Mandan/Hidatsa culture. Perched across the street from the Milwaukee Federal Courthouse in its first U.S. viewing, “Pangolin” (2021/24), a cast bronze, white-lacquered sculpture by the late German-Iraqi artist Lin May Saeed, poignantly emphasizes the beauty and vulnerability of this rare mammal. And at the far eastern end of the avenue, in Museum Center Park—a stone’s throw from Milwaukee’s signature orange “Sunburst” (formally, “The Calling”) by Mark di Suvero—“Untitled” (2024), a totemic painted aluminum figure by the Japanese artist Izumi Kato brings to mind Paleolithic art and futuristic aesthetics at the same time.More large-scale works selected by Riepenhoff for AF, Act II—including pieces by Derrick Adams, Sarah Braman, Anish Kapoor, Mary Miss, and Milwaukee-based artist Michelle Grabner—will be arriving downtown next month and throughout the summer. In the meantime, all nine of the sculptures included in Actual Fractals, Act I are still up, dotting parks and plazas across the city. And there’s another exciting new arrival—originally commissioned by the Swiss-born, New York-based artist Ugo Rondionone for Nature Doesn’t Know About Us, his 2022-23 Sculpture Milwaukee exhibition—that was also recently installed in Museum Center Park: “Glass Spiral” (1990/2024), an ecosystem by the esteemed multimedia artist Meg Webster, who is closely affiliated with the Land Art movement of the 1970s. Viewers of all ages and levels of ability can enter the sculpture, which coils like a snail’s shell, to experience the mesmerizing water- and plant-filled piece from the inside, making themselves moving parts of this new, reengineered version of another beloved “Glass Spiral” that the Milwaukee Art Museum commissioned Webster to make in 1990.&nbsp;In addition to creating new resonance among all the works installed across Milwaukee by our past and present programmers—today, there are a total of 31 sculptures on view from different overlapping exhibitions—Sculpture Milwaukee is brewing up more ephemeral programming to enrich viewing experiences. Debuting a fresh identity for our organization, design and branding elements—seen everywhere from our posters and placards—created by alphabet artist Nat Pyper play with the words “Sculpture” and “Milwaukee” in curving arrangements that mimic the geography of the rivers that bend and merge downtown, and how people move and congregate around public art. Reflecting our interest in building new layers of value, for viewers and artists alike, Pyper’s designs are part the AF, Act II, as are works of social choreography that Sculpture Milwaukee commissioned from Kim Miller, a local performance and visual artist, to help activate audiences and engagement with works in the exhibition.“As we continue to gear up and build on Sculpture Milwaukee’s success, we’re not only finding ways to collaborate and co-invest to support artists, but also to spark new conversations about public art that are as important internationally as they are to Milwaukeeans,” said Riepenhoff. “It’s an exciting time, as art increasingly takes a central place in our city and our culture. Actual Fractals champions bold new artists alongside more established art stars, and I’m thrilled to share this exhibition with many different local audiences and visitors to our remarkable city. I invite you to come down and see the exhibition early and often, as it will be growing and changing not only across the seasons, but every day, as new viewers come, move around, and bring new resonance to the works with their enjoyment and investigation of the sculptures we’ve brought to the streets of Milwaukee.”&nbsp;EXHIBITION PROGRAMMINGGuided tours of Actual Fractals, Act IIWalking tours, Monday, July 22, and Monday, August 5, 2024, 5:30 pmTour by trolley, Monday, July 29, 2024, 4 pmSelf-guided toursVisitors can view <a href="https://www.sculpturemilwaukee.com/visit">a map online of all the curated works currently on view</a>, or they can scan the QR code on any sculpture’s object label for more information.&nbsp;&nbsp;EXHIBITION CURATION&nbsp;Actual Fractals, Act II is curated by John Riepenhoff, executive director of Sculpture Milwaukee. A multimedia artist and Milwaukee native whose exhibitions and curatorial projects have been presented at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Tate Modern in London, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, among other places, Riepenhoff also owns and operates The Green Gallery, located on Milwaukee’s Lower East Side.&nbsp;</body></html>

Sculpture Milwaukee Announces 8th Annual Exhibition is on View: Actual Fractals, Act II

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/wsiimz2i4k2unclavjf0.jpg"></figure>Via PR &nbsp;CHICAGO – WNDR Museum, Chicago’s original immersive art and technology experience, located in the city’s West Loop, today introduced a reimagined atrium featuring the installation of Yayoi Kusma’s LOVE IS CALLING, alongside a relocated WNDR Lounge, offering a variety of local fare to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests.“At WNDR Museum, we’re always evolving and looking for new and exciting ways to spark curiosity and creativity in our guests,” said WNDR Museum’s Brad Keywell. “The addition of the reimagined WNDR Lounge and our newest work by Yayoi Kusama demonstrate our commitment to making world-class artworks accessible to the public while providing a community hub in our hometown of Chicago.”&nbsp;LOVE IS CALLINGWNDR’s largest infinity room to date by artist and global icon Yayoi Kusama,&nbsp;LOVE IS CALLING, invites visitors into a dark, mirrored room illuminated by inflatable forms that extend from the floor and ceiling. These soft sculptures are covered in Kusama's iconic polka dots and pulsate with a dynamic, shifting palette of colors, ranging from neon greens and pinks to deep blues and purples. The mirrored walls create an illusion of infinite space, as the colorful, dotted tentacles seem to stretch out endlessly in all directions, surrounding the viewer in a surreal, otherworldly environment. LOVE IS CALLING&nbsp;premiered in Japan in 2013. Its installation at WNDR Museum Chicago will mark the work’s Chicago debut.Accompanying the visual spectacle of LOVE IS CALLING&nbsp;is an audio component of Kusama’s voice reciting a love poem in Japanese. The poem, whose title translates to “Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears," was written by the artist herself, reflecting her contemplations on love, existence, and the cosmos, adding an introspective and emotional layer to the sensory experience.&nbsp;The WNDR LoungeThe newly-unveiled&nbsp;WNDR Lounge will feature both bar and lounge-style seating, offering an assortment of local food and beverage offerings including coffee, soda, cocktails and snacks. Accessible to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests from a designated entrance on Monroe St., the WNDR Lounge is open during regular WNDR Museum hours.In addition to the WNDR Lounge, the WNDR Shop, also located in WNDR Museum’s atrium, features an assortment of unique goods from local makers, artists and nonprofit organizations alongside special WNDR-branded merchandise and collaborations.&nbsp;Tickets &amp; HoursGeneral admission tickets to WNDR Museum start at $32 and must be purchased in advance at <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.oTjORMppDqxAbsefRFk27wz1Bt90zoma8G4B3VYS-2Bq-2BbMri0yv3Ix0F2synpyrmnGi6F6Aosn1g8d-2BOLJv4Jm4R7q0iGN-2FlXIPQPqyyXzj7iTKLTey-2FTh9di0PfNqCbESE7j_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK6pF5-2BX84lC07qHiN3JlR49RFa9OLhLSmQM42fuOHwsTon-2FtI1hYlhuyfoGAKM7J5VNU6R4vCKx4aO6NVebMah6ud1rBSYxdMLMkW4KDJHV4dhVyLZRTlCGS4G9D0r48BEHSqqDKdRTq8r7CNuY0RXfUYCtilkvm1fnDS-2FLJa6MwVM3DT49EezstYjuFjei9hjoeOrXOhLVexIGiu3a032GizvwllzNuFcmpAYSLxAg0YE7a7IdYCI1wt0OtMka7-2F3qFPVwkgk-2Fp5bEGFzBHThypqS7g8gPsgsINREgnPtobSfISKX7k-2BvQOlTD-2BBBlUjOVqKA2-2BF6XDQZ2VRbSaSawT8GLrOrgSevi6Pv-2BYwUaz-2Bem2KOOriVyYF9Vo2WPgy1mzzgMCgcmttXfpa3wxsAJVky05md3PznB04gOe-2BMCn8o9-2FQEIrJbl4b7etW5P8QAZc-2B8aQ8l5-2FZvikOnJrVhVRTwpYVk-2BRZLqQMFlJEq9xcGme1WH4z-2FXroUL6Yn6ihpvzvyuCQ1e-2FkOaR4VhKL6sszqoCNcsP1-2B7sJsMxraf56HMMTmBVWV-2FI09Czu1Qmi-2BhaSVsW76z4mok64pRiI6lKBp9K3Fnxp308IsUdq0gfgl5zJ8lz079rZGS5TWjdKmwoBL1cxHlFj63X5ygsRuZ8Dqu24TUnVu8SaGVCP9q3EcB1Pa40KaPH7kvLRVCNP-2F-2FTgBHChQ3oRMcHY1F3aDkB0lAL4xJx02u8QMTEJW9-2FICCt2iUUWRF9MQw9FHiq44-3D">www.wndrmuseum.com</a>. Children’s tickets are available for children ages 12 and under and start at $22. Children ages two and under receive free admission.&nbsp;About Yayoi KusamaBorn and raised in Japan, Yayoi Kusama emerged as an artist during the Vietnam War era and continues to make work that reaches diverse audiences worldwide. Throughout her prolific practice spanning over six decades, Kusama has consistently created artwork about repetition and the concept of infinity. In 1965, Kusama produced her first Infinity Mirror Room. This marked a move from the material repetition found in the artist’s paintings and sculptures to the illusion of infinite space using mirrors. Since then, Kusama has made more than twenty unique rooms.Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most iconic artists working today. With connections to Pop Art, Minimalism, psychedelia and popular culture, Kusama’s multidisciplinary career transcends categories as the artist continues to innovate over a career spanning more than 70 years. Kusama’s artistic practice encompasses paintings, sculpture, installations, works on paper, performances, films, fashion, design and literary works. Her work across this wide breadth of media alludes to both microscopic and macroscopic universes.&nbsp;</body></html>

WNDR Museum Announces Redesigned Yayoi Kusma Space and New Lounge in West Loop

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/ayhgquztzviuj1zlif2c.jpg"><figcaption>McCormick's New Space in West Town is the former location of Mongerson Gallery, which recently moved back to River North</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Tom McCormick is Moving His Gallery From West Loop to West TownOver the weekend McCormick shared, "After 24 years in the West Loop, iIn July we will be leaving our grand gallery for a new Grand Gallery, in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. We will be joining the area's other expat relocators such as Rhona Hoffman, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Patron and Andrew Rafacz. After July 12 we will be open by appointment only until we reopen in our new space after Labor Day.&nbsp;Watch for the opening exhibition in the new location on September 12, Mud Time: And Other Forces of Nature, new paintings by John Santoro."&nbsp;<a href="https://marianeibrahim.com/news/133-marisol-rodriguez-to-join-mariane-ibrahim-as-curatorial-gallery-news/">Mariane Ibrahim Announces New Curatorial Director</a>Mariane Ibrahim is pleased to announce Marisol Rodríguez as the Curatorial Director of the gallery’s three locations: Paris, Chicago, and Mexico City. Marisol Rodríguez will be based in Paris and will spearhead the gallery’s curatorial vision across the three spaces, and enhance the gallery’s relationships with museums and institutions, particularly in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.<a href="https://marianeibrahim.com/news/133-marisol-rodriguez-to-join-mariane-ibrahim-as-curatorial-gallery-news/">More here</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park_20.html">Millennium Park's Full 20th Anniversary Schedule Announced</a>Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full slate of programming for the City’s Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration (July 18–21), presented by Capital One. Scheduled to take place almost exactly 20 years since the Park’s official opening on July 16, 2004, this four-day free celebration features award-winning headliners, activities for families and youth, dance performances, new public art, and concerts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

CGN Art World Recap: 6/18/24

&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="http://i2.cmail19.com/ei/i/F1/BB1/4CE/230541/csfinal/IMG_2400-7f89b4427a1b4fc.jpg" alt=""></figure>Via PRChicago Artists Coalition is pleased to announce their incoming cohort of Artist and Curatorial Residents for 2024-26!“As we approach our 50th anniversary, I am excited to welcome this next group of creatives to the CAC&nbsp;community,” says Executive Director Brookes Ebetsch. “I cannot wait to see the connections that are made between this cohort, the collaborations that are sparked and the learning that takes place amongst us all. We, the CAC staff, board and alumni community look forward to the future we continue to create together!”CAC looks forward to working with this group over the next two years. Stay tuned for more updates as we introduce you to our new residents over the coming months!Incoming Curatorial Residents:<a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-y/">Francine Almeda</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-j/">Gordon Fung</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-t/">Sidney Garrett</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-i/">Christine Magill</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-d/">Christina Nafziger</a>Incoming Artist Residents:<a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-h/">Reevah Agarwaal</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-k/">Cecilia Beaven</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-u/">Chelsea Bighorn</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-o/">Isaac Couch</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-m/">an emard</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-c/">Maryam Faridani</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-q/">FÁTIMA</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-a/">Jairo Granados-Cardenas</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-f/">Eli Greene</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-z/">Oriana Koren</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-v/">Ruth Poor</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-e/">Martha Osornio Ruiz</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-s/">Nekita Thomas</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-g/">bex ya yolk</a>, <a href="https://news.chicagoartistscoalition.org/t/i-l-flyuyik-dlvzir-w/">Sangwoo Yoo</a>You can see all 5 groups of Artist and Curatorial Residents in the above composite.&nbsp;

Chicago Artists Coalition Announces Its 2024-26 CAC Residents

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/ou9rl55ahwj5k26cooys.jpg"><figcaption>Artist's visualization of what ABH's new home might look like after renovations.</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;By CGN StaffWe recently heard that plans are underway, once again, for the construction of a permanent home for the Artists Book House, a space founded by author and artist Audrey Niffenegger and formerly planned to open in Evanston in 2026. Now the center will open on Chicago's north side in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, and it will open in phases according to levels of completion. &nbsp;&nbsp;An artist's book is an art object. Whereas a book contains mostly text and accompanying illustrations or photographs, an artist's book is a vehicle for artistic expression. An artist uses the form of a book and then chooses the other artistic elements to elevate the book, from design to materials, layout and structure.Niffenegger envisioned ABH as a new kind of center to foster the creation of artists book as well as to celebrate them. She has made artists books herself and founded Columbia College's Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. Niffenegger also taught in the school's MFA in Book and Paper Arts program. Artists Book House was originally going to occupy an extensively renovated historic lakefront mansion in suburban Evanston, but in January 2023 while facing increasingly insurmountable renovation costs, ABH's board decided to forgo their current plans and to reconsider where the center's home should be. &nbsp;In her announcement about the new location plans, Niffenegger shared,&nbsp;"I am delighted to report that Artists Book House has a new home: 4207 West Irving Park Road, in Chicago. This is a single-story, double storefront in the charming Old Irving Park neighborhood. It is near the Irving Park stops on the Blue Line and the Union Pacific Northwest Metra line. It’s just west of 90/94. It should be easy to visit us!"Niffenegger also asked for critical donations of equipment or other helpful objects, as well of course—money. The ABH board is now working to advance design and construction plans for a bookshop, gallery, library, and studios for papermaking, printing, and bookbinding and seems to be on course to open around their originally planned date after all.&nbsp;To keep up with plans as they happen or to support ABH visit <a href="https://artistsbookhouse.org">artistsbookhouse.org</a>You may read CGN's <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2021/9/inpursuit-of-bookish-things-audrey-niffenegger-on-building-artists-book-house-a-home-in-evanston">2021 interview</a> with Niffenegger here.&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

Audrey Niffenegger Announces New Location and Plans for Artists Book House

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/y0zz1cxmgge6qqjiui4o.jpg"><figcaption>John McKinnon</figcaption></figure>By GINNY VAN ALYEALast month it was announced that John McKinnon, executive director of the Elmhurst Art Museum in Elmhurst, Illinois, has been named the next director of the <a href="https://www.marquette.edu/news-center/2024/marquette-announces-new-director-of-haggerty-museum-of-art.php">Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University</a> in Milwaukee. McKinnon succeeds Emilia Layden, who has served as acting director since July 2023.McKinnon will begin in the role on July 8, joining the Haggerty Museum of Art as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary over the course of the 2024-25 academic year. Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee.&nbsp;“Following a year of strong leadership by acting director Emilia Layden, the Haggerty is entering a period of tremendous growth and opportunity,” Dr. John Su, vice provost for academic affairs and student success, said. “Our committee sought a candidate who could build on the Haggerty’s foundation of high impact academic and community engagement and take the institution to the next level. John is warm, energetic, a collaborative leader, and we’re delighted that he is joining the Marquette and Milwaukee community.”McKinnon has 17 years of experience leading teams, managing an organization’s creative output, cultivating community support, and overseeing growth, doing so at the Elmhurst Art Museum, Society for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Art Museum. In 2022, he was featured in Newcity Design's “Design 50: The Fifty People Who Shape Chicago.”“I admire the Haggerty Museum of Art’s nearly 40-year history as a laboratory for the Marquette campus and greater Milwaukee area with a deep commitment to transformative experiences of art and culture,” McKinnon said. “I look forward to leading this uniquely positioned and free-to-the-public institution into its next chapter.”Over the last seven years McKinnon dynamically changed the Elmhurst Art Museum physically and philosophically. After successfully fundraising and restoring Mies van der Rohe’s McCormick House, McKinnon then led efforts to better establish the organization’s identity as a center for art, architecture, and education. He successfully steered the organization through COVID closures and impacts, shepherded policies and partnerships to create a more equitable cultural space for the community, made significant facility upgrades through capital campaigns, and greatly increased the museum’s audience through the acquisition of an annual two-day arts festival.Prior to the Elmhurst Art Museum, McKinnon was the program director of the Society for Contemporary Art, where he worked with donors and collectors to support contemporary art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He oversaw the independent nonprofit's budgets, operations, membership, programming, fundraising, marketing and art acquisitions. McKinnon also spent nearly four years at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where he oversaw several major exhibitions as assistant curator of modern and contemporary art. He also acted as the main liaison of the Contemporary Art Society, coordinating their programming and fundraisers.McKinnon's move north will be something of a home coming, as he went to college in Madison and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree in art. He then received two master’s degrees from the Art Institute of Chicago in art and arts administration.The Haggerty Museum of Art connects people—on campus, in the community, and around the world—to art, to ideas, and to one another. The museum uses the interdisciplinary lens of art to cultivate knowledge, insight, understanding, and belonging, all in service of Marquette University’s commitment to care for the whole person.&nbsp;</body></html>

Elmhurst Art Museum's Director Moving to Haggerty Museum in Milwaukee 

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419390/qjxik5jburd8gwvijth7.jpg"><figcaption>Driehaus Museum: Nickerson Mansion (left) and Murphy Auditorium (right)</figcaption></figure>Via PRCHICAGO (May 23, 2024) – Today, the Driehaus Museum, at Wabash and Erie, is proud to announce that its John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium has received City of Chicago landmark designation. The Driehaus Museum is now comprised of two landmarked buildings – the 1926 Murphy Auditorium and the 1883 Nickerson Mansion. Following the Museum’s restoration of the historic building, it will officially reopen the Murphy Auditorium as part of its campus on June 21.The restoration of the historic Murphy Auditorium began in summer 2023 and included restoring the main auditorium on the ground floor to its original grandeur, enhancing it with modern lighting, and creating a leveled, unified, and accessible seating area to make it a world-class venue for music, events, and programs that support the Museum’s mission and allow it to open its doors wider to the community. The project also renewed former office space above the auditorium to create a dynamic new Learning Center with art and maker studios, new offices, seminar rooms, and an 800-square foot outdoor terrace on the top floor. Summer programs on the campus will be kicked off with a weekend of free admissionincluding access to the exhibition Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective from Friday at 11AM, June 21 to Sunday, June 23, also ushering in the Museum’s expanded hours and added amenities&nbsp;According to Driehaus Executive Director Lisa Key, “It is thrilling for us to complete this important renovation creating a new Museum campus, offering visitors not only an incredible museum of art, architecture, and design, but now a newly rejuvenated auditorium that will add a vital and dynamic public space to the cultural campus in Chicago that will continue toincrease the historical profile of this great city of architecture.” Key added, “It was museum founder, Richard H. Driehaus, who had the vision to combine these historic buildings into one museum campus. We are so happy this vision has come to fruition and now this expansion allows us to extend our work outward in the larger community.”“It was a huge relief to learn about the Driehaus Museum expanding its campus into the adjacent Murphy Memorial. There are not many options for finding an appropriate re-use that would respect the historic character of such a monumentally scaled historic building while at same time providing a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood,” said Tim Samuelson, the Cultural Historian Emeritus of the City of Chicago. “The Driehaus Museum has been a thoughtful community partner and valuable neighborhood asset for the past twenty years, and its expansion into the Murphy makes something great even greater!”To become a more accessible and visible part of the community and Chicago’s cultural landscape, starting June 26, the Driehaus Museum will offer expanded hours and free admission on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7pm. The restoration project also refreshed the Museum’s amenities including a larger coat check and renovated bathrooms. Guests to the Museum will now enter through the Murphy’s Tiffany-designed doors at 50 East Erie, and the Museum’s address will officially change to 50 East Erie.Antunovich and Associates and Bulley &amp; Andrews, both of whom were involved in the extensive renovation of the Nickerson Mansion from 2003-2008, were the architecture and building partners for the Murphy Auditorium. The opening of the updated building will present a full suite of new programming tied to the Driehaus Museum’s strategic vision, along with a range of activities and events, both public and private, for the community.&nbsp;ABOUT THE MURPHY AUDITORIUMLocated at 50 East Erie, the six-story, 32,193-square-foot French Renaissance-style building, purchased by the Driehaus Museum in 2022, was built between 1923 and 1926 by the American College of Surgeons. Designed by noted Chicago architects Benjamin Marshall and Charles E. Fox of Marshall and Fox, the Murphy was used originally to host meetingsand serve as a center for education in surgery. Its iconic exterior is Marshall’s interpretation of the double-columned, two-story façade and flanking entry staircase of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Consolation (1900) in Paris.The building features a pair of cast bronze doors designed by Tiffany Studios at the front entrance, comprised of six panels depicting prominent figures in the history of medicine. It also has a towering, multicolored stained-glass window inside the auditorium. It was built as a memorial to founding member John B. Murphy, MD, FACS. Dr. Murphy was regarded worldwide as the greatest clinical educator of his generation, and known for performing a life-saving surgery on President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.&nbsp;SUMMER EXHIBITIONChicago Collects: Jewelry In PerspectiveMay 23 to September 23, 2024Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective is an exhibition of over two hundred pieces of rare and historically significant jewelry from the 17th century to the present, all from prominent Chicago collections. This first-of-its- kind exhibition includes a range of never-seen-before jewelry and decorative arts objects from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection alongside objects from the Chicago History Museum, the Field Museum, and the Lizzardo Museum of Lapidary Art, among loans from other Chicago collections. The exhibition is organized by jewelry historian and author Elyse Zorn Karlin, guest curator of the Museum’s popular 2015 exhibition Maker and Muse: Women and 20th Century Art Jewelry.&nbsp;SUMMER PROGRAMSWalking Chicago's AlleysJune 15, July 13, August 17, September 28, 11:00-12:30 pm$35 General, $17 StudentPlenty can be learned by walking Chicago’s streets, but a whole hidden history can be seen in its alleys. Visitors can discover how Chicago became the alleyway capital of the country, dig into the history of urban trash, and see Chicago architecture from a new perspective on this alleyway walking tour. Curator and historian Madeline Crispell will trace a route through the Gold Coast and end at the Driehaus Museum, covering everything from how activists like Jane Addams worked to clean up the alleyways to how a new generation of green alleys can help the city adapt to a changing climate.&nbsp;Brick of Chicago Summer Walking ToursJune 26 (6-7pm), July 17 (2-3pm), August 7 (6-7pm), September 4 (2-3pm)$35 General, $17 StudentWill Quam&nbsp;is an architecture photographer and historian based in Chicago.&nbsp;In his popular walking tours, Quam shows visitors a variety of bricks and brick designs used in the city of Chicago. Quam leads a tour in the area around the Driehaus Museum, including the Medinah Temple and the Allerton Hotel.&nbsp;Jewelry Heist Night: Murph the Surf Film Screening and TalkbackWednesday, July 31, 5:30pm$25 General, $15 Student 18+ ​Throughout the run of Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective, the Driehaus Museum hosts ‘Jewelry Heist Night’ film screenings of classic heist films and talkbacks with film experts. The 1975 film Murph the Surf chronicles the audacious 1964 heist of the J.P. Morgan jewel collection from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Dubbed "The Greatest Jewel Heist of the 20th Century," the film will be introduced by Chicago Collects guest curator, Elyse Karlin, who will set the context for the film with a primer on the visuals and narrative.&nbsp;Jewelry Heist Night: Topkapi Film Screening and TalkbackThursday, August 15, 5:30pm$25 General, $15 Student 18+ Throughout the run of Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective, the Driehaus Museum hosts ‘Jewelry Heist Night’ film screenings of classic heist films and talkbacks with film experts. In the 1964 film Topkapi, the elegant thief Elizabeth Lipp and the cunning criminal mastermind Walter Harper join forces to orchestrate the heist of a lifetime: the theft of an emerald-encrusted dagger housed within Istanbul's prestigious Topkapi Palace. The film will be introduced by School of the Art Institute Professor Bruce Jenkins, who will set the context for the film with a primer on the creative team behind the film.Jewelry Heist Night: Ocean’s Eight Film Screening and TalkbackMonday, September 16, 5:30pm$25 General, $15 Student 18+ Throughout the run of Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective, the Driehaus Museum hosts ‘Jewelry Heist Night’ film screenings of classic heist films and talkbacks with film experts. In the stylish and empowering Ocean’s Eight (2018) starring Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, Debbie Ocean leads an elite, all-female team of thieves and experts in a daring scheme. Their target: the dazzling $150 million diamond necklace adorning the neck of the glamorous actress Daphne Kluger, set to make its debut at the prestigious Met Gala. The film will be introduced by School of the Art Institute adjunct Professor Patricia Erens, who will set the context for the film with a primer on the visuals and narrative.&nbsp;ABOUT THE DRIEHAUS MUSEUMThe Driehaus Museum engages and inspires the global community through exploration and ongoing conversations in art, architecture, and design of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are presented in an immersive experience within the restored Nickerson Mansion, completed in 1883, at the height of the Gilded Age, and the Murphy Auditorium, built in 1926. The Museum’s collection reflects and is inspired by the collecting interests, vision, and focus of its founder, the late Richard H. Driehaus. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.driehausmuseum.org/">driehausmuseum.org</a> and connect with the Museum on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Driehaus-Museum/362867207176025">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DriehausMuseum">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/driehausmuseum/">Instagram</a>.&nbsp;# # #</body></html>

Driehaus Museum Reopens Landmark Murphy Memorial and Announces Free Visit Days in June

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419390/j37rflj70eydl9g8jdzr.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;By GINNY VAN ALYEAI'm incredibly sad to share that Jason Pickleman passed away on May 12, 2024. He was 59.&nbsp;Jason was a visionary, a lover of and creator of design, an artist, a collector, a party person and a cultural dilettante, he once told me. Along with his wife and partner Leslie Bodenstein, Jason founded JNL Graphic Design in 1992, which operated until 2023. Pickleman specialized in creating design that could be elevated to the same level as fine art, and in many cases that design stood on its own as art objects. Jason also ran Lawrence and Clark Gallery for several years, showing works from his own collection alongside practicing artists and even mail-in art. He also founded PICKLEMAN, an art advisory in his design studio. JNL was behind countless artistic synthesis, from catalogues and books to packaging and brands.&nbsp;Jason's indelible productions were the result of consuming as much visual culture as he could, day in and day out. He loved sharing art as much as he loved exploring and learning about it. I, and so many others, certainly benefitted from Jason's generous spirit and his wisdom. He was behind CGN's system for organizing the galleries and gallery districts in the early days of the magazine when Natalie van Straaten was publisher. He was a sounding board for me when we introduced the new annual CGN Arts Guide in 2017. And he became a contributor to CGN in 2021, somehow managing to write beautiful articles about a range of notable artistic contributions–from Ray Johnson to Keith Haring–in addition to everything else he was juggling in his daily life.&nbsp;A couple years ago I came across an old snapshot of myself standing on Michigan Avenue in April under a yellow street banner for Art Chicago, designed by Jason Pickleman. I was 14 in that photo, and of course I had no idea that so many of my future springs (and falls) would connect to Chicago's art fair season and to a professional path crossing with Jason. I sent the photo Jason asking if he could believe it, and he said it made him smile. I know I will always do the same when I remember Jason.&nbsp;We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and everyone else we know who loved him dearly. Thank you Jason.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419391/mxfdvkkipwd8qt20excq.jpg"><figcaption>Works from <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2023/7/making-time-for-joy-a-designer-s-exhibition-pays-tribute-to-the-art-of-design">Making Time for Joy</a> at The Suburban in Milwaukee, summer 2o23</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Read Jason's contributions to CGN below.<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2016/8/collector-jason-pickleman-s-creative-life">2016 collector interview</a><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2021/9/book-report-ray-johnson-c-o">Book Report: Ray Johnson c/o</a><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2022/5/book-report-the-clip-on-method">Book Report: THE CLIP-ON METHOD</a><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2022/9/sculpture-report-keith-haring-s-self-portrait">Sculpture Report: Keith Haring’s Self-Portrait</a><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2023/6/felix-gonzalez-torres-untitled-1995-billboard">Felix Gonzalez-Torres “Untitled”, 1995, Billboard</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

Jason Pickleman (1965–2024)

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419390/wbozcy0gktnfxc7bmz3p.png"></figure>CGN Staff via PRAn event that has become a mainstay of the fall cultural calendar is the River North Design District's&nbsp;Annual Fall Gallery Walk. The 9th edition of the walk will be presented this year by Sherwin-Williams&nbsp;and will take place Friday, September 6, 2024, the opening of the fall art season in the River North gallery district.&nbsp;Showrooms will feature an array of fine artists and designer vignettes, along with special events throughout River North in area galleries and businesses.&nbsp;Each participating showroom and art gallery will be exhibiting artwork created by some of the most influential artists in the art world today. This year, Chicago’s top designers will select their favorite art and create inspirational vignettes in each participating showroom.&nbsp;During the Gallery Walk, all showrooms and galleries will be open extended hours from 5-8 pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some showrooms will be open on Saturday, September 7 (list to come). Temporary exhibitions in the showrooms will be on display through October 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;The event is free and open to the public except for the VIP kick off and after-party.&nbsp;The walk begins with a VIP kick off party at The Luxury Bed Collection, 120 West Hubbard St, from 4:30-6pm. From 8-11pm, a safari themed after-party concludes the walk at Lightology, 215 West Chicago Ave,&nbsp;featuring special performances and an auction consisting of artist decorated illuminated Seletti primates. Tickets are $55 each per event in advance and will go on sale in July.Participating showrooms for the walk include: Heritage Auctions, Oscar Isberian, ARMAZEM.design, Daltile, The Luxury Bed Collection, Lightology, Moblili Möbel, California Closets, TOTO, O’Brien Harris, 210 Design House, Artists Frame Service, bulthaup, Kohler Signature Store by Studio41, Studio41, Altalia Furniture, Roca Tile, Farrow &amp; Ball, Molteni&amp;C, Rimadesio and Poliform.&nbsp;&nbsp;Participating designers include: Honsen Interiors, Navy Black Studio, Interiors by Francesca, Yamini Designs, Stone Textile Studio, Bridgette Haulenbeek Interiors, Xcēd Design Build, Hailey&nbsp;Lauren Designs, Epic Interiors, Zach Hayes Design, KP Home, En Masse Architecture and Design, VF Interiors, Elizabeth Krueger Design, Unpatterned, the workshop design studio, SKIN Interior Design, Tom Stringer Design Partners, KBS Interior Design, Beige by Michael Morganti, and MegMade.Participating Art Galleries and consultants include: Alma Art + Interiors, Daniel Kinkade Fine Art, Jean Albano, City Haus Chicago, and gallery 1871.&nbsp;&nbsp;Special exhibition&nbsp;featuring DIFFA Art for Life Pop Up with artists&nbsp;Samantha Haring, Jeff Cote, and Ramin Takloo Bighash&nbsp;curated by Oliver Aguilar.Artists include: Sam Goble, Michael Alan Kaskel, Martina Nehrling, Bobbi Meier, Seon Young Lee,&nbsp;Melissa Herrington and Sara Schneckloth, Steven Haulenbeek, Studio Heron, Sonya Benham, Dan Nelson,&nbsp;Michela Colognese, Diana Noh, Fontaine Scarelli, Adriana Miranda, &nbsp;Jonathan Pliego, Opame Pop Up featuring artist Atelier Nue, Brenda Jackson, Donna Drapeau, Michiko Itatani, Marketa Sivek, Magdalena Krzak, Laurie Kwo, and Yaha.RNDD announced it is partnering with Sherwin-Williams, Heritage Auctions, MDA Lites, Terrazzo &amp; Marble Supply Co, Euro-Marble, LG Group, Ferguson Bath Kitchen &amp; Lighting Gallery, Hardly Water, Mammoth Distilling, Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago, Chicago Gallery News, Kennicott Brothers, Art Encounter, Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID IL), The Merchandise Mart, River North Residents Association, National Association of the Remodeling Industry,&nbsp;BIACG,&nbsp;SOAR, and WCA.RNDD also shared plans to "party with purpose" and align with philanthropic partners Humble Design and the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation.The event’s host committee includes: Dina Bair, WGN Newscaster, Daniel Kinkade, Daniel Kinkade Fine Art, Randy Fifield, Randy Fifield Modern Living, Jeffrey Johnson, Jeffrey Johnson Pictures, Nicole Flevaris, Kinzie Chop House, and Nina Mariano, Dom’s Chicago.&nbsp;Check RNDD's&nbsp;<a href="https://rivernorthdesigndistrict.com/rndd-fall-gallery-walk/">website</a>&nbsp;for periodic event updates.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;About River North Design DistrictThe River North Design District, founded in 2013, is a local community that boasts interior design offerings that are accessible to both designers and consumers. &nbsp;The showrooms carry&nbsp;everything from lighting, tile, plumbing, rugs, and kitchens to furnishings- everything one needs to create a one-of-a-kind haven. The participating showrooms pride themselves on providing a shopping experience that is both unique and personalized. &nbsp;Each showroom is located on street level, which allows customers to stroll along and enjoy the neighborhood.&nbsp;Please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rivernorthdesigndistrict.com/">https://rivernorthdesigndistrict.com</a>&nbsp;for more information.&nbsp;</body></html>

RNDD Fall Gallery Walk Planned for September 6, 2024

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419385/ei1s6r9969ymiqzf9wak.jpg"><figcaption>Ann Nathan in her gallery. Photo from Betsy Nathan.</figcaption></figure>By GINNY VAN ALYEAWe heard this afternoon that Ann Nathan passed away at age 98 yesterday. Daughter Betsy Nathan, of Chicago's Pagoda Red, shared the news.&nbsp;I never actually knew how old Ann ever was, but many of us were always guessing. I suppose that is how Ann, a woman who was always full of surprises and new endeavors, wanted it.&nbsp;Ann worked in the employment agency business for over 27 years, eventually running multiple agencies. When she grew tired of that work, ceramicist Ruth Duckworth encouraged her to try her skills elsewhere and move into a 200-square foot Ravenswood studio in Duckworth's pickle factory. Ann opened a gallery, Objects, around 1986.&nbsp;Though the space was tiny, she showed jewelry and ceramics – small, functional objects, Ann had to be creative with every inch of space, including pedestals that opened up and doubled as storage space.Eventually it was time for the gallery to grow, and Ann relocated from the north side to River North, nearer to downtown. She was there until the River North fire in April 1989 forced her to close briefly. She reopened in a large ground floor space on Superior Street as Ann Nathan Gallery.&nbsp;I got to know Ann back in 2002 when I first arrived at Chicago Gallery News and our office was around the corner from her eponymous Superior Street gallery. As shared in my interview with Ann a few years ago, when I first started working for CGN, Natalie van Straaten, CGN’s founder and my boss at the time, would ask after my neighborhood visits to area art dealers, whom I had seen, and what impressions they had made on me. A telling factor as to the character of a dealer was often how they would treat the lowest person on the totem pole (me).One of the most welcoming figures was Ann Nathan. Though she could have dismissed me as a young person who knew little about art or the area, she showed curiosity and was gracious with me. I found her to be a little bit of a mystery, but she was as intriguing and inviting as her expansive loft space on West Superior Street.Ann closed her gallery in 2016, but she continued to stay connected to art as well as her large family.&nbsp;I had the opportunity to visit Ann at home with two of her daughters in late 2019 to interview her for the spring 2020 issue of CGN. I felt so fortunate at the time, and especially again now, to have had the chance to spend time together before the pandemic made in-person interviews impossible for awhile.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2020/5/art-dealer-ann-nathan-the-perpetual-collector">You may read the interview here.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

Trailblazing Art Dealer Ann Nathan Has Died at 98

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419377/qfdayc7oy2irdxznwryw.jpg"><figcaption>Pat Steir (American, b. 1938) Small Ghost Waterfall, 1993 Sold for $533,400</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Via PRCHICAGO – Work by Gertrude Abercrombie, Olga de Amaral, Louise Nevelson, and Pat Steir beat their estimates selling for six figures in Freeman’s | Hindman’s <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRC-2Bk1jCu-2FjBuvLJa07KkVhmDRp8j2M1pmx206u7RIzsqYERuKAy2XwPc89g4r3Z54E-3D-RFt_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn6RB1-2BWZ2rKdtfCrhqclGuQoZTRQ6V235reElvwvokJo3VW-2FJ4pTo392CUy2tw24qfp2FzMnToHJQvZUsXZGBcsqqWa4F08K7X-2BUWx-2BC1H-2FrlI-2B2nAUHal7LUzyA-2Fx46XFWaeigZDB5U2CD-2FlH9U3QxMEcXOFX6YBpfjymhPNWMrg-3D-3D">Post War and Contemporary Art auction</a> on April 24. On the day, seven works sold for over $100,000, four of them created by female artists, spearheading Freeman’s | Hindman to a $2.9 million total.“We were thrilled to see so much spirited bidding in our Post War &amp; Contemporary auction,” said Zachary S. Wirsum, Freeman’s | Hindman’s senior vice president and head of the Post War and Contemporary Art department. “It was especially pleasing to see top notch examples by previously overlooked female artists soar well beyond their estimates.”A Clear Demand for Female ArtistsWorks by female artists proved to be the most coveted lots of the day accounting for just over half of the sale’s total at $1.5 million, including three of the top five lots of the day.Pat Steir’s (American, b. 1938) sizeable 1993 oil on canvas <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRClBBElBYNOw8TyesjzL0fZXK0-2FzZaFeUSoOkgN1YBwEezlt4qChOi-2Bvbv6ZJl7R50-3DuiXm_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn7jp9ZI2nT0Cv8i3CePC2OzI9OWv1HkaZOZnVBTbxDIS3tcgpUde2v-2Fwx2-2Bl3hRYg7weiEMOMt-2BKLKtqs9EOkaWzo2S9OyixKPMk44iJ76bvNeS2HYazdf5e3GOxccs59JS0xX94w4sq9wjoDY1ZZWdYUGMYv30dznPfQw5ruB0ew-3D-3D">Small Ghost Waterfall</a> was the top lot of the day selling for $533,400, more than double its presale estimate. Quintessentially Steir, the piece manages to walk the fine line between abstraction and atmosphere. Steir used a variety of mark-making techniques to emphasize movement and chance, making a connection between word and image to immerse the view into the painting’s specific frame of mind.<figure class="image"><img src="https://meltwater-apps-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/5e38472c6c3a3a00184b210f/image_52158373341714070729508_1714070730627.jpg"></figure> Olga de Amaral (Colombia, b. 1932) Cesta Lunar 35, 1989-90 Sold for $304,800A remarkable textile piece from Columbian artist Olga de Amaral (b. 1932) more than tripled its presale estimate selling for $304,800. <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRDTzQWoIsQ98H98XGW7zG7Rj-2B1cj9BZmAPNa51kCx4W9edEOmDwybUnWAVpyfbM5m4-3DeatJ_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn4AKbpYGCxUXqzdVcQ7G8DSNierVVakcs5uho0-2FbCGJeO0kPgZ-2BYewrZmP6MxQiuml1My1qh5Z0LS-2FLWCIztcdtEhlOH-2FWYrumwyNBvj91xP9Q5AISEfyKyW6-2Fk9mnrGnORhJFC1P79hEXlrjl56xSnekdlTal8-2F18lGIbQnxkABQ-3D-3D">Cesta Lunar 35</a> (1990) is a sweeping, shimmering work comprised of paint and gold leaf enmeshed in fibers, bright gold threads cascading down to a rich violet umber. The piece is an excellent example of the cosmic voyages taken in de Amaral’s Cesta Lunares (Moon Baskets) series.<figure class="image"><img src="https://meltwater-apps-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/5e38472c6c3a3a00184b210f/image_35709780851714070729508_1714070730516.jpg"></figure> Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909-1977) Giraffe and Moon with Volcano (Giraffe and Volcano #2), 1951 Sold for $266,700Of course, no Freeman’s | Hindman Post War and Contemporary Art auction would be complete without a piece by Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909-1977) vaulting past its estimate. In this sale, <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRC-2BUtfqUmK4Wl941AhVv6jQU-2FfaiTAGiYovEqp7xp0tbecMtNQoLj2TE8pPigwUW2Q2s1Z37MsE8Fv-2Bwi-2FjgbxAjzfhBepmZeYSVW211gmR2Q-3D-3DqRvH_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn5CZFTen8pYeWUFw-2BZnl3ksYBAGQGOL4lhu-2FZh7Hv5GlsbLH9STNwkcz6L47gnw2LlSzQZukOKAOIYOyxVG2yst-2BaZcWJjF6YNAnlybEehunO8syjaisGncLHqGY8m-2FydFLBfIp7Hehmzfigg7QGXgE4-2BWedUiNclNYs9VFZYhXtA-3D-3D">Giraffe and Moon with Volcano (Giraffe and Volcano #2)</a> had the honor of besting its estimate by more than $200,000 selling for $266,700. As aptly named as ever by Abercrombie, the piece depicts a giraffe reaching to touch a low-hanging crescent moon in an austere landscape. Abercrombie did many paintings of giraffes throughout her career and the volcano adds a new dimension to the composition that created a voracious bidding war between five phone bidders.Between Realism and AbstractionTwo works by Alex Katz (American, b. 1927) also managed to reach six figures on the day. The subject of more than 200 solo exhibitions and international acclaim, the signature style of Katz is a deliberately vibrant visual language between realism and abstraction, ambivalence and intimacy. Coming of age alongside the titans of New York’s Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s, Katz boldly favored flatness of color and form rather than gestural primacy and raw emotion. His work is deceptively simple; his technique of painting wet on wet evokes a lustrous finish to his canvases, defying two-dimensionality even in their flatness.&nbsp;The 2016-17 oil on linen entitled <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRARlIqxxarikVKpQoKAQQrnorPLt5O9QM7L-2FdF4pUQaqPj1w2L7Xs3T3Uv0J8pF-2Fns-3DGRHK_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn78xrR-2FRUd6Xc2jcP3kfT-2BYPxIs71Ey2oPYK0uMVwOI-2BR5dbDSv1ayglhLJHV0DypOXNp2N47qtuJfcy-2Bt-2BM6PNf89Jk7ZE-2BBcLts0YTv8UbcPDSo6WIj0EfRVcEKk-2Fw-2BtFzidqLyhqkIv7zztnaPs-2FUfJgKx0ZLvdlr1BplK70Qg-3D-3D">Ariel</a> was the top seller of the pair, achieving $317,500. A quietly moody portrait of Ariel Vieth, a model and frequent muse of Katz’s, the painting depicts a woman who is simultaneously a familiar figure and otherworldly specter.2001’s <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNMWM2lTpvyMoM6o39HlMyRARlIqxxarikVKpQoKAQQrnYQANyk1-2BQVWk7klRWlP0WfPaHvQTPv8M4uyi1F7B8WY-3DNFI7_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMucTujQm4dgUItrJrDuMOUvCBTQZud-2FQ-2BGsvHPKEDecozRJPgRaUBHni-2FhZ79ijr8Zv6Ed8jegNLFZEpKCO8Up31ydOBQtj3NPtxiugC-2B6Qn62maCz8KP6IVp1Fohsrvt58z0iS2IAiWecTLFsJO79gCPuIPbwZAlOgIkK7Yb7wlez6wcNL8D6Kp0ehyC0UIG-2F0jMaVMQSk9ZB4vXyMUpYqEm6qP8AMOA-2FwwwDnzAvGUsWzwimdqtW1duhbxUOcv-2Bz044K6h9qi6-2Ffaq825u1oVQ-3D-3D">Golden Field #1</a> also topped $200,000 selling for $228,600. Although on first blush, these two works may seem markedly different, Katz’s unmistakable style shines through. In both Golden Field #1 and Ariel, Katz is simply painting his environment, flash-in-the-pan moments he captures in thick brushstrokes and meditatively stylized forms.Other Notable HighlightsThe auction saw a number of notable highlights across a wide variety of mediums and movements, including:<ul><li>Louise Nevelson (American, 1899-1988) Untitled, c. 1973-78 Sold for $177,800</li><li>Michael Goldberg (American, 1924-2007) Sad Street, 1958 Sold for $114,300</li><li>Larry Poons (American, b. 1937) Untitled (15-A), 1976 Sold for $82,550</li><li>Ed Clark (American, 1926-2019) Standing Woman at the Chair, 1949-50 Sold for $63,500</li><li>Harry Bertoia (American, 1915-1978) Untitled, c. 1969 Sold for $57,150</li><li>Lynne Drexler (American, 1928-1999) Trunk Grass, 1980 Sold for $53,975</li></ul></body></html>

Women Lead Way at Freeman’s | Hindman’s  $2.9M Post War and Contemporary Art Auction

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419377/wqzobvngib4vtg82itim.jpg"></figure>CGN Staff via PROn a quiet Monday morning in a sunny room inside the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, a lineup of City, political and nonprofit figures gathered to share details about the museum's&nbsp;<a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=518651a636&amp;e=95b957c616">Día del Niño (Day of the Children) celebration</a>. With representatives from the Mayor's office on hand, the gathering was undoubtedly a positive event to boost due to its focus on bettering the lives of children in the city. A neighborhood program that encourages participation in the arts beyond the museum and the first bilingual family program outside of the MCA, <a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=96316d8ff7&amp;e=95b957c616">Día del Niño</a> joins the MCA’s ongoing, family-centered programs such as Family Day and Sensory-Friendly Mornings. This free, activity-filled event in Little Village will showcase local vendors, art, and performances at Saucedo Elementary School on April 27, 2024, from 11–2 pm.&nbsp;Guests can register for free tickets via the <a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=bd2d9797d5&amp;e=95b957c616">ticketing link on the event’s web page.</a>The festival uplifts Chicago youth by celebrating their place in the city through artmaking, food, music, and dance and is organized by the MCA alongside the Chicago White Sox, Sueños Music Festival, Little Village Chamber of Commerce, the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce, the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Hispanic Congressional Caucus Institute, and the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation.Families are invited to partake in a day of art and fun while learning about migrant experiences and the many communities that call Chicago home. Participating artists include Mr. Pintamuro, Salvador Andrade (CGN's spring cover artist!), Sabina Ángeles from The Jacobo María Ángeles Workshop in Oaxaca, and more. MCA Educators will also be present to facilitate activities. Drawings will take place during the celebration, with prizes such as two pairs of 2-day General Admission tickets to Sueños Music Festival, which runs from May 25 through 26, 2024.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419378/nng0nsanbrzyyqjqawsm.jpg"><figcaption>Image credit: Jordan Fuller</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;"As we celebrate the Day of the Children, let us acknowledge the rich diversity that defines our youth. In nurturing an inclusive educational environment, we sow the seeds for a future where every child's unique background has the ability to build bridges of understanding that will strengthen the fabric of our global community,” said Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil of the Mexican Consulate in Chicago.“The Latino Caucus Foundation is proud to work alongside the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in supporting events that use art as a vehicle for diverse and equitable spaces for Latino families, artists, and Chicago's cultural ecosystem. The Foundation is committed to supporting these accessible spaces, and we look forward to celebrating Día del Niño on April 27,” said Michael D. Rodriguez, Chairman of the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation, Alderperson of the 22nd Ward.“Families are at the heart of our community, and their well-being is our top priority. Collaboration with community organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies is vital to ensure that every child has the tools to thrive, especially through family friendly activities like ‘Día del Niño,’” 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez said.“Celebrating the richness of culture and community is at the heart of our mission at the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. It's our utmost pleasure to join hands with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for their Day of the Children celebration. Our members embody the spirit of giving, and we're honored to have Los Comales generously donate food for this event,” said Jennifer Aguilar, Executive Director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce."Pilsen Chamber of Commerce and La Michoacana Premium is more than excited to be a part of the Día del Diño event with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Children are the happiness in this world who bring smiles to our faces in times of great fear and strife. This event is important not only by sharing love with them through paletas, but also by sharing tradition through our ancestors' recipes from one generation to the next,” Noe Govea, Vice President of the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of La Michoacana Premium said in a joint statement with Evelyn Ortiz-Govea, co-owner of La Michoacana Premium."Investing in young minds and the next generation of Chicagoans, who are positioned to lift up our community and continue discovering ways to push progress, is essential. Día del Niño is an impactful route to help empower children in our neighboring Little Village community and provide the resources to help youth grow and thrive. The White Sox organization is proud to be a partner to bring this important program to life in Little Village," said Sheena Quinn, Chicago White Sox Senior Director of Public Relations.“We at Choose Chicago are absolutely thrilled to support the Museum of Contemporary Art's Day of Children event at Saucedo Academy in Little Village. This initiative is a remarkable example of community engagement, bringing the spirit of the MCA directly into one of Chicago's most dynamic neighborhoods. It is so important to make art accessible to everyone and to help weave together the rich variety of cultures that makes Chicago such a uniquely vibrant place to live, work, and visit," said Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO of Choose Chicago.“Sueños Chicago is super happy and honored to be a part of Dia del Niño! Our hope is for every kid to know that there is no dream too big; every kid's dream is worth fighting for. Now let's celebrate todos los niños!" Said the Sueños Chicago Team."It’s truly an honor to be a part of this event at La Villita, hosted by the MCA. We are grateful to participate, and support the community that has supported us since day one,” said Javier Garcia and Nathalie Soli, founders of Big Mich.#Guests can register for free tickets via the <a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=bd2d9797d5&amp;e=95b957c616">ticketing link on the event’s web page.</a></body></html>

The MCA's Día del Niño (Day of the Children) Celebration Brings Art Into Neighborhoods

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419377/rgefk2eo4ljizcrndwih.jpg"></figure>Via PR(CHICAGO) April 23, 2024 – Hyde Park Art Center, the renowned non-profit hub for contemporary art located on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, announces that it has completed the transition to a contribution-based model for 100% of its art classes. The initiative, Open Arts, launched in spring 2022 with 70% of the courses on a contribute-what-you-can basis. The completion of this pioneering initiative makes the Art Center’s Oakman Clinton School + Studio the nation’s first fully contribute-what-you-can visual art school for all ages. The successful model, dedicated to ensuring more equitable access to artmaking, education, and community engagement, demonstrates the Art Center’s commitment to the South Side and the broader Chicago art ecosystem for the years to come.View <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6bnpikwskdu6yuesdvyif/OPEN-ARTS.mp4?rlkey=vpdf9fpk1ipscfth1l8lwk8ud&amp;dl=0">VIDEO</a> of students, teachers, donors, and Art Center staff sharing first-person perspectives on the program’s impact.As part of the 2016-2020 strategic planning process, the Art Center heard from constituents that the Art Center’s art-making facilities, education programs, and community of makers are a vital part of many people’s lives–and that at the same time, many were unable to participate because of the cost. Hence, the Art Center created a radical plan to ensure that no one is shut out due to their economic status. In 2018, the Art Center Board of Directors initiated the $16 million <a href="http://www.hydeparkart.org/art-makes">ART MAKES: COMMUNITY + CHANGE</a> capital campaign, the largest in the Art Center’s history, to establish the contribute-what-you-can education model and to increase funding for general operations and artist investment. By 2022, the Board had raised $17 million, surpassing the ambitious original goal and enabling the implementation of the contribution-based model.Two years after the initial launch, the Open Arts curriculum now includes all classes offered by the Oakman Clinton School + Studios at the Art Center, with more than 40 on-site courses each quarterly term, and additional workshops and virtual courses that provide more ways for the community to access artmaking. On average, the School + Studios offer more than 150 coursesper year and 120 teaching hours per week. Open Arts encompasses courses for all levels of participants, from skill-building courses for beginners such as painting and printmaking, to professional development programs for working artists including critique feedback and grant writing workshops, removing the financial barriers for artists of all economic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419378/evzydyb1bjtyvqqunvze.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;The contribute-what-you-can tuition model is shown to foster a culture of giving, and its continuous success relies on the generosity of class-takers, funders, and supporters of all types on an ongoing basis. Patrons are invited to contribute what they can through financial donations, class participation, spreading the word via social media, or however else they can. To make a donation that builds a path for continued equitable access to arts education, visit <a href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/education/open-arts/">www.hydeparkart.org/education/open-arts/</a>.Jill Potter, an Open Arts student, shares the liberty and interactions the initiative gives her: “Having the ability to decide what I can afford is liberating. I don’t have to choose between participating or not. And I can see the difference Open Arts is making at the Art Center. There are so many new faces and ‘first-timers’ in classes.&nbsp; I appreciate the multigenerational learning space where people exchange ideas and experiences.”Randall Miller, a teaching artist at the Art Center for over 10 years, shares how the program ensures steady work and reliable enrollments: “Prior to Open Arts, I worked with a small handful of really dedicated students. Unfortunately, there weren't always enough of them to run a class, so we would either be scrambling to enroll a few more students, or we would have to cancel. That kind of unpredictability was frustrating for students and difficult for me as the teaching artist because I loved working with those students, and I needed steady work. Now my courses have waiting lists and the students I've worked with for years have been able to maintain their work and sense of community.”Jen Tremblay Chambers, Co-Executive Director of the Art Center, shares the genesis, goals, and impact of the initiative: “Our community asked us for better ways to alleviate the financial stress and economic barriers that can come with signing up for a class. That was a call to action. We see first-hand every day the importance for people to be able to access their creativity and build deep relationships with peers and teachers. Many consider the school a second home, and we’re thrilled that tuition no longer gets in the way of their belonging.”&nbsp;About Hyde Park Art CenterHyde Park Art Center, at 5020 South Cornell Avenue on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, is a hub for contemporary arts in Chicago, serving as a gathering, production, and exhibition space for artists and the broader community to cultivate ideas, impact social change, and connect with new networks. Since its inception in 1939, Hyde Park Art Center has grown from a small collective of artists to establishing a strong legacy of risk-taking and experimentation, emerging as a unique Chicago arts institution with social impact. Today, the Art Center offers a diverse suite of programs for artists and art lovers of all backgrounds, ages, and stages in their careers including: contemporary art exhibitions in six galleries; open-access community-based school with 1,500 annual enrollments; weekly arts education to 1,000 elementary school students in public schools; weekly and summer teen programs for 100 teen artists; professional-advancement programs for artists; a local and international artist residency; and public programs that connects residents with Chicago art and artists. The Art Center functions as an amplifier for creative voices of today and tomorrow, providing the space to cultivate new work and connections. For more information, visit<a href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/"> www.hydeparkart.org</a>.&nbsp;</body></html>

Hyde Park Art Center Announces Art Education Program is Now 100% Pay-What-You-Can, The Nation's 1st

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419368/jtdkiy7zcvmqolmreg5t.jpg"></figure>Via PRSculpture Milwaukee shared that as part of the preparations for the eighth (!) public exhibition of sculpture by renowned international artists on the streets of downtown Milwaukee, Sculpture Milwaukee has announced the release of their first companion beer. this is Wisconsin after all, and everything, even art, is better with beer.&nbsp;Debuting this month at Company Brewing and throughout April at select bars and restaurants, including Classic Slice and Bridgewater, Sculpture Milwaukee Monumental IPA is the latest collaboration between Company Brewing and the Beer Endowment, a project SM's executive director and current guest curator, artist John Riepenhoff, started a decade ago to support and promote artist-run organizations.Like Fred Smith Lager, Poor Farm Pils, and other art-backing Beer Endowment craft brews already in production, Sculpture Milwaukee Monumental IPA—a big, bold, and refreshing West Coast double IPA—shares qualities with its namesake. The beer is also symbolic, Riepenoff says, of the deepening and reverberating conversations people are having about art thanks to Sculpture Milwaukee’s continued investment in fostering cultural life in the city: “There’s an explicit social history of humans gathering to converse over libations. In Milwaukee, we obviously have our own beer history and collaborative social spirit. With Monumental IPA, we’re adding to the story by using the beer as a way to welcome people into the conversations Sculpture Milwaukee has already started.”&nbsp;Monumental IPA’s tallboys, designed by artist and former Milwaukeean Nat Pyper, also debut a fresh new identity for Sculpture Milwaukee. The beer’s 16-ounce can, along with other design elements created by Pyper, will be part of our next exhibition, Actual Fractals, Act II, opening on June 3. A follow-up to our 2023 exhibition, Actual Fractals, Act I, which Riepenhoff also curated, Actual Fractals, Act II will kick off with a weeklong series of events, including tours and artist talks.“With elements of design, in Nat Pypers’s case, or performance, in the case of works of social choreography we’ve commissioned from Kim Miller, a local performance and visual artist, we’ll be activating discussions around other monumental physical pieces in the show,” says Riepenhoff. “As we continue to gear up and build on Sculpture Milwaukee’s success, we’re not only finding more ways to collaborate and co-invest to support more artists, but also to spark new conversations about public art that are as important internationally as they are to Milwaukeeans who might enjoy the wonder and surprise of discovering, say, an organic bronze evoking fruits and plants and fertility by the Brazilian artist Erika Verzutti tucked into a pocket park they pass every day.” # &nbsp;About Sculpture Milwaukee - Sculpture Milwaukee is an annual exhibition of public sculpture in downtown Milwaukee that serves as a catalyst for community engagement, economic development, and creative placemaking. Through its free outdoor installations, Sculpture Milwaukee honors the arts and celebrates the community with artworks that spark inspiration and conversation, empowering residents, tourists, students, and art lovers alike to experience sculpture in new and profound ways. Sculpture Milwaukee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded through private grants, donations, and sponsorships. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.sculpturemilwaukee.com/">www.sculpturemilwaukee.com</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

Sculpture Milwaukee Announces Something Very Wisconsin: Special Beer

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419377/mgvlguuyg4vp6tgota4q.jpg"><figcaption>Lucia Koch,&nbsp;3X3 Pots,&nbsp;2024. IN/SITU installation view:&nbsp;In the Country of Last Things at EXPO CHICAGO 2024. Courtesy the artist and&nbsp;Nara Roseler, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York. Photo: Evan P Jenkins.</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;VIA PR<a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=e65ae3a2d8&amp;e=c5b146cc27">EXPO CHICAGO</a>&nbsp;concluded its eleventh&nbsp;edition on Sunday, April 14, following robust attendance from collectors, curators, and museum directors, totaling over 35,000 visitors. This year the fair saw&nbsp;lively&nbsp;sales across 170 leading galleries from 29 countries and 75 cities. In its first year as part of the Frieze network, EXPO CHICAGO reaffirmed its position as a convening moment for Chicago’s creative and philanthropic communities, showcasing the depth and breadth of the city’s cultural landscape.“In our 11th edition of Expo Chicago, we are grateful to now be part of the Frieze family,” said Tony Karman, President and Director of Expo Chicago. “There was a tangible sense of excitement around this year’s edition, a sentiment echoed by our patrons and gallerists, translating into strong sales and an energized atmosphere at the fair and throughout the city.”HIGHLIGHTS&nbsp;<ul><li>The <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=e3efc27e7a&amp;e=c5b146cc27">/Dialogues Stage</a> and Exchange Stage by Northern Trust were&nbsp;activated&nbsp;by 16&nbsp;conversations over four days between artists, curators, musicians, museum leaders, critics, and activists. Panels featuring Chance the Rapper, Amanda Williams,&nbsp;Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and more, drew in crowds of attendees, alongside screening programs by Art21 and Daata. Recordings of these conversations will be made available online&nbsp;over the coming weeks.</li><li>EXPO CHICAGO and Independent Curators International’s first ever curatorial&nbsp;conference <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=c6ceb45ecf&amp;e=c5b146cc27">Curating and the Commons</a>&nbsp;gathered&nbsp;curators for two days of programming on-site at EXPO CHICAGO. Over 200&nbsp;museum leaders and curators visited EXPO CHICAGO&nbsp;as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=1978170403&amp;e=c5b146cc27">Directors Summit</a>, <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=1abcad516e&amp;e=c5b146cc27">Curatorial Forum</a> and <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=046e650939&amp;e=c5b146cc27">Curatorial Exchange</a>.</li><li>Attendance to EXPO CHICAGO increased from last year to 35,000 visitors over four days, with ticket buyers attending from as far as Australia and Taiwan.</li><li>EXPO CHICAGO's expanded program of Purchase Prizes <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=808793afad&amp;e=c5b146cc27">were announced on Friday</a>, including Northern Trust acquisitions for the High Museum of Art, the&nbsp;Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.</li><li><a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=c824ffe10d&amp;e=c5b146cc27">IN/SITU</a>, curated by Amara Antilla, Independent Curator and Guest Curator at Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati, was&nbsp;installed throughout Festival Hall and featured&nbsp;fifteen artists who explored themes of systemic economic failure, ecological instability, and political&nbsp;dissolution. Off-site programs <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=96cff4f4a8&amp;e=c5b146cc27">OVERRIDE</a> and <a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=2fa1a60b39&amp;e=c5b146cc27">IN/SITU Outside</a> extended EXPO CHICAGO's reach&nbsp;beyond Navy Pier.</li><li>Over 50 international exhibitors participated, including&nbsp;a growing number&nbsp;from&nbsp;South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The EXPOSURE section, featuring&nbsp;galleries ten years or younger and curated by Rosario Güiraldes,&nbsp;Curator of Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, received strong reviews in the press including in&nbsp;<a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=2b78289f2f&amp;e=c5b146cc27">The Art Newspaper</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=5c9e62dff7&amp;e=c5b146cc27">Artsy</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://expochicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=feab88d1702b05fff44372e88&amp;id=84858d15a7&amp;e=c5b146cc27">ARTnews</a>.</li></ul>&nbsp;EXPO CHICAGO will return April 24-27, 2025&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

EXPO CHICAGO Wrap-Up Report: 11th Edition

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419377/x15m6gvr89k1ewgxysji.jpg"><figcaption>photo credit: George Almaraz</figcaption></figure>Via PRROSEMONT, Ill. – THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion, the multifaceted contemporary art program located within Fashion Outlets of Chicago with support from the Village of Rosemont, today announced the artist chosen to create a work for its inaugural Purchase Prize at the 11th edition of EXPO CHICAGO. As part of its ongoing sponsorship of the exposition, Fashion Outlets has chosen Michael C. Thorpe to create a custom artwork to join THE COLLECTION’s 23 large-scale installations."I am humbled and honored to be a part of THE COLLECTION at Fashion Outlets of Chicago in their outstanding collection of contemporary art. I'm a firm believer that art is for everyone, and this kind of setting draws people of all kinds to engage with objects and aesthetics,” said Thorpe. “It means the world to me that people who may not typically interact with art in its more formal settings have the opportunity to see my work. That’s what it’s all about." The commission, titled house Lou Jones built, is a quilted work reflective of his artistic practice, executed through his inventive use of textiles, fabrics and quilting techniques. Inspired by artist Lou Jones, the piece is an interpretation of the beginnings of Thorpe’s art career and the home studio of his mentor.“Michael C. Thorpe’s inventive, unique approach to artistic fabrication makes the perfect addition to THE COLLECTION,” said Jim Hansen, Senior Property Manager at Fashion Outlets of Chicago. “We’re thrilled to present this inaugural Purchase Prize at this year’s edition of EXPO CHICAGO as the first textile-based commission for THE COLLECTION.”Michael C. Thorpe describes himself as a painter working in fabric and thread upon a foundation of drawing which he views as the evolved practice of mark making akin to the stitches of quilt making. His compositions are born of long-term projects in which Thorpe is engaged – quilted paintings and works on paper that explore his surroundings, abstraction, letters and words as subjects; sculptural constructions created by combining found objects and quilting debris; and performance pieces emerging from the dedication to an idea. The result is a figurative and conceptual art that is as ingenious as it is uniquely contemporary.Thorpe is represented by Anthony Gallery, Chicago.About Michael C. ThorpeMichael C. Thorpe was raised in Newton, MA and earned his BA from Emerson College in Boston, MA where he studied photojournalism. &nbsp;Before his first solo exhibition, Thorpe attracted the attention of NPR, who wrote an article about his story and dedication to creating art in the medium of quilting. &nbsp;Press articles about Michael C. Thorpe have been published in Artscope Magazine, Boston Art Review, The Boston Globe, CNN Style, Cultured Magazine, Howl, and PBS, among others. &nbsp;Thorpe was recently featured in a Dove Men+Care television commercial and he participated in a collaboration with Nike and the NBA for the league’s 75th anniversary. Works by Michael C. Thorpe have been added to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and numerous private collections around the country. &nbsp;Thorpe was included in Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art, an exhibition organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, that opened in October 2022 and later traveled to the Frist Art Museum in Nashville. &nbsp;Thorpe’s work was also included in Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories, organized and first presented at the MFA Boston in 2021 and then at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA through March 2023. &nbsp;In the Spring of 2023, the Paul R. Jones Museum, University of Alabama presented a solo museum exhibition, Michael C. Thorpe: Nonsensical Formalism. &nbsp;Recently, Thorpe's work was included in Birds in Art, organized by Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, WI. &nbsp;In 2024, Michael C. Thorpe will have one person exhibitions at four museums in four states - California Heritage Museum (Santa Monica, CA), The Delaware Contemporary (Wilmington, DE), Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA), and Hickory Museum of Art (Hickory, NC).About THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets FashionTHE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion is a multifaceted contemporary art program located within Macerich’s Fashion Outlets of Chicago, with support from the Village of Rosemont. Components of THE COLLECTION include 24 permanent commissions and a rotating exhibition series located throughout the common area of the shopping center. The public art program has invested in works by Daniel Arsham, Derrick Adams, Carlos Rolón Dzine, Jen Stark, Matthew Hoffman, and many more. THE COLLECTION’s rotating exhibitions feature work by a variety of artists displayed in glass cases located throughout Level Two of the shopping center. For more information, visit <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.oTjORMppDqxAbsefRFk27x507Y8RCkhvCWKPYeD-2BKa2EDZAqceRwnjCivMGWugvHp8SC4Qj4igUzbMa-2BXZtr2-2Fo8-2BU4MsG-2BpsWQOA2lpTgETehvdAOuhyNMmPQSy1tluQ6Wb5IOd4CvOsDTGm8xvCeOZ4gjl5yjHiNJMmhxYkcA-3D6hQo_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK53L-2Fik4fGVXUvw21h7c67vJQx3XYWs-2FAQ-2F6mhMj66JiW7XhE33O34mK84OKyEj39gYciFJ1HHPssl01TCYoT2Yb0KEww-2BgbOM3ZyCdG4ayiGdQocoHI0WozMgYohpXxjGVtSTBnEU9cXaOgiMtGzOerNSQFKcFnmr3nnwo7nUYoTAyfhHExDtJLXbZlf2vStn5rfDY-2BAITzW3OxZyB7tnmeoS6DomE65eOEZhjq4cJsg4AVzcuwVgoW-2Fxa5FyWP9WGGzCv5VeYFkVu5jdRzAmGKwPJJjIZ9jYXRHdGRQTzZMkPqr5xp5Gq1tfBLZLt6eYG7gocaXtDt5akoNozsiqa8K317eeGie7Vo5TMDnJ7iMxy-2FsRyq6-2FSMgTVxjKoA7jt8nO95AYwg8bp-2Fp7-2FBGSIQLB0PBcW0KbyceocXbgGlyenoGDd7DUxEs5eybqTuDB7KOXXOAHlZR1J-2F8kcmyo-2BMNF2l41-2FrB-2B-2F2QrGmRHhrlwf5Dpp10pQAAcBdLMussPqiReeXfXZXd88Kl9cOs7z0Pzo9IpwnpY-2B8PsY-2FhsnWcVQBIECA2Ro9FnlqD4oevG93-2FB5-2Fz8Lq3uLRqhAc8EQkTeaeYM9BbjgTjwENRjBKaWMZXsC74gruS-2Fx3iNdnLHbfVroe1JZYRZUSPMbgRr-2BYCV3Pyqt-2B62MwxaEpmsR7aDV8lXN9FJiDayZfyTJxoizexWSSFHTCVJkKWGXA8zW7YhwQtX-2BEB5q0FbFc5lYR-2FOri49BAz2XT7QEthYFRYU-3D">www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com/TheCollection</a>.About Fashion Outlets of ChicagoFashion Outlets of Chicago is an award-winning 530,000 square-foot, two-level indoor shopping center that is home to more than 130 designer outlets, an impressive contemporary art collection known as THE COLLECTION and high-end amenities. The one-of-a-kind upscale outlet property that redefines and elevates the outlet shopping experience, is located at 5220 Fashion Outlets Way in Rosemont –minutes from O’Hare International Airport and Chicagoland’s major highways. For more information, visit <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.YGtAXXM2e8X4wIriVfujJsly62AeUO0rs3h4Ai9ane59DVL8fNcBk6hsUfOSe4qHw2HBKw73vLbEQVCdqVMV21kWi9O9y7KCc1QbAzpSIgr27G54J754OptUKMtgaiVyMXjzl5gZafqLeWAQ1h8nvQ-3D-3DEpBZ_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK53L-2Fik4fGVXUvw21h7c67vJQx3XYWs-2FAQ-2F6mhMj66JiW7XhE33O34mK84OKyEj39gYciFJ1HHPssl01TCYoT2Yb0KEww-2BgbOM3ZyCdG4ayiGdQocoHI0WozMgYohpXxjGVtSTBnEU9cXaOgiMtGzOerNSQFKcFnmr3nnwo7nUYoTAyfhHExDtJLXbZlf2vStn5rfDY-2BAITzW3OxZyB7tnmeoS6DomE65eOEZhjq4cJsg4AVzcuwVgoW-2Fxa5FyWP9WGGzCv5VeYFkVu5jdRzAmGKwPJJjIZ9jYXRHdGRQTzZMkPqr5xp5Gq1tfBLZLt6eYG7gocaXtDt5akoNozsiqa8K317eeGie7Vo5TMDnJ7iMxy-2FsRyq6-2FSMgTVxjKoA7jt8nO95AYwg8bp-2Fp7-2FBGSIQLB0PBcW0KbyceocXbgGlyenoGDd7DUxEs5eybqTuDB7KOXXOAHlZR1J-2F8kcmyo-2BMNF2l41-2FrB-2B-2F2QrGmRHhrlwf5Dpp10pQAAcBdLMussPqiReeXfXZXd88Kl9cOs7z0Pzo9IpwnpY-2B8PsY-2FhsnWcVQBIECA2Ro9FnlqD4oevG93-2FB5-2Fz8Lq3uLRqhAc8EQ8WpwFpxdNT2emJ3-2BoOmoIXBaaxnsNx5ow1Vc2415a2nFvUrKBrzMLRceaHtO0zhXJwW-2BHAX5pMQiW8aIFQxIUnNZy47RRb-2FRZ0uz-2F9O2MtRXts5rwCT9D60HbH-2Bnbb50haW6fVN3iGQUn0hDET0z4fs5mcTZIiGKH9fm7uWxCwU-3D">www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com</a>.&nbsp;</body></html>

The Collection: Where Art Meets Fashion at Fashion Outlets of Chicago Unveils Michael C. Thorpe Commission for Inaugural Purchase Prize at EXPO CHICAGO

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419368/gvrqnyfbjvuqddmxnqtj.jpg"><figcaption>Workers were preparing on Friday for the eventually move of “Monument with Standing Beast,” a sculpture by Jean Dubuffet, from the Thompson Center.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</figcaption></figure><a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2024/04/05/thompson-center-renovation-dubuffet-art-monument-standing-beast-snoopy-blender-google?tpcc=040824%20Afternoon%20Edition">Giant sculpture to be moved from Thompson Center by end of April</a>A sculpture that has stood outside the Thompson Center for four decades will be moved by the end of the month."Monument with Standing Beast," by French artist Jean Dubuffet, is being moved, for now, to a yet-to-be-determined state facility.It was announced last year that the artwork — nicknamd "Snoopy in a Blender" — <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/7/15/23793133/snoopy-sculpture-thompson-center-art-institute-public-art-editorial">eventually will be headed</a> to the Art Institute of Chicago, where several Dubuffet works already are displayed.Via Chicago Sun-Times&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419369/qoewodtkdj1n7o55g1mb.jpg"><figcaption>Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928-2011), Untitled , 1967, color screenprint on paper.</figcaption></figure><a href="https://mailchi.mp/northwestern/helenfrankenthalerprints?e=64540e863b">The Block among&nbsp;10 national museums to receive works from Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Prints Initiative</a>The Block Museum of Art is happy to announce that it is one of 10 institutional recipients of works through the <a href="https://northwestern.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=904f932038284b4d9eea69636&amp;id=b6a91a8235&amp;e=64540e863b">Helen Frankenthaler Foundation</a>’s Frankenthaler Prints Initiative.&nbsp; The initiative is an&nbsp;ongoing program for university-affiliated art museums, reflecting&nbsp;the foundation’s commitment to supporting undergraduate and graduate education in the visual arts and art history.&nbsp;The selection of works&nbsp;received by The Block was thoughtfully drawn from the foundation’s extensive collection of work by Frankenthaler and encompasses the broad scope of the artist’s work,&nbsp;including etching, lithography, screenprint, woodcut, and other techniques.Via PR&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/work/2024/04/05/union-wave-afscme-newberry-library-chicago-museums-cultural-institutions?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=040524%20Afternoon%20Edition%20-%20sponsored&amp;utm_content=040524%20Afternoon%20Edition%20-%20sponsored+CID_4c4188403e4d074cc0e69f4fbb598ad8&amp;utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&amp;utm_term=Union%20wave%20is%20picking%20up%20at%20Chicago%20suburban%20libraries%20cultural%20institutions&amp;tpcc=040524%20Afternoon%20Edition%20-%20sponsored">Union wave is picking up at Chicago, suburban libraries, cultural institutions</a>For more than a century, the Newberry Library’s grand Romanesque building has loomed over a city block in downtown Chicago.Established in 1887, the Newberry is home to books, maps, music and other materials spanning six centuries. Its history and majestic architecture evokes a sense of reverence. But its staff can’t survive on cultural cachet alone.“There’s a lot that’s special about the Newberry,” said Sophia Croll, program manager at the library. Yet the institution has “chewed through a lot of staff,” largely due to low pay, she said. “You couldn’t afford to live in this city and work here.”Via Chicago Sun-Times&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

CGN Art World Recap: 4/10/24

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419368/psu3zevb73zjak1rhdox.jpg"></figure> APRIL 4, 2024 &nbsp;(Chicago) Carrie Secrist announces today the next iteration of 32 years of operation in Chicago. Henceforth, this new chapter will be called&nbsp;SECRIST | BEACH&nbsp;and will be located at 1801 W. Hubbard Street in Chicago.&nbsp;Established in the city's River North gallery district in 1992, Gallery A (becoming Carrie Secrist Gallery in 1996) sought to re-imagine an enlightened salon by creating an environment rich with conversation. Initially focused on emerging artists and local makers as well as large thematic exhibitions, this first iteration of the gallery emphasized an engaging environment for discovery and experience.In 2003, Carrie Secrist Gallery relocated to the West Loop, a 5,000-square-foot space on Washington Blvd. The new space allowed Secrist as curator to exhibit larger scale artworks as well as the opportunity to formally develop investigations around her aesthetic interests through in depth solos exhibitions and large-ranging survey exhibitions that partnered internationally known artists alongside those mid-career and emerging.&nbsp;Beginning in March of 2020 - coinciding with the onslaught of the COVID epidemic - Secrist began developing the next vision of the gallery, continuing a career-long process of reinvention.&nbsp;Carrie states, “Even prior to the pandemic, I found myself questioning if our foundational commitment to sharing a longer look and a deeper dialogue around artworks that demanded an in-person exchange still mattered in the art world of the ‘now’. Then as fate would have it, I (along with most of the rest of the world) was offered down time to experiment, elaborate on those questions, eliminate the unnecessary excess of ‘what was’ and finally prioritize what proved to be at the core of authentic creativity... community. So while other businesses were downsizing their physical footprint and digitizing most of their communication, I decided to mow down my corn crop and erect a baseball diamond for the spirit of yesteryear to reclaim the field ... trusting in my gut that ‘If We Build It, They Will Come!’.”Moving forward to April of 2024 that vision will culminate in a new 10,000-square-foot space featuring double bow-trussed ceilings flooded with sky-lit natural light, opening a new chapter in a storied career:&nbsp;SECRIST | BEACH.&nbsp;&nbsp;SECRIST | BEACH&nbsp;combines the names of Carrie Secrist and her partner in business and life, Bill Beach. With this transitional moment in name and location, new progressive programming will be introduced that reinvestigates and expands the initial gallery mission from 1992 of an enlightened salon. One half of the physical space will be dedicated to challenging and solidifying the practices of represented artists. The other half will present a simultaneously curated group exhibitions that will conceptually elaborate upon the concurrent solo exhibition while introducing new ideas. Bisecting the two spaces will be a salon - a dedicated physical room for artistic collaborations that will offer a variety of intellectually challenging programs featuring lectures, events, performances and more. This new initiative is squarely aimed at the gallery goer with the intent of dialogic real time engagement.&nbsp;The preview of inaugural exhibitions at SECRIST | BEACH will take place Friday, April 12, from 5-8PM.&nbsp;&nbsp;HILMA’S GHOST |&nbsp;SPECTRAL VISIONS: A Feminist Collective Signals Magickal Futures&nbsp;A retrospective and new works by Hilma's Ghost (Sharmistha Ray + Dannielle Tegeder)&nbsp;&nbsp;COSMIC GEOMETRIES: The Prairie's EdgeCurated by Hilma's Ghost&nbsp;and featuring the following artists:&nbsp;Candida Alvarez, Elijah Burgher, Holly Cahill, Mike Cloud, Gianna Commito, Edie Fake, Vanessa Filley, Julia Fish, Beverly Fishman, Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Azadeh Gholizadeh, Michelle Grabner, Christina Haglid, Rachel Hayes, Gina Hunt, Michiko Itatani, Miyoko Ito, Anna Kunz, Alice Lauffer, Aya Nakamura, Deb Sokolow, May Tveit, Georgina Valverde, Susan C. White, Amy Yoes and Jade Yumang.</body></html>