<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419408/xaqvyy12vqqfhyprtyjn.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;By CGN StaffThe River North Gallery District spaces are banding together again to host their traditional mid-summer gallery walk on Friday, July 12 from 5–8pm. Afterward, walk attendees are invited to enjoy cocktails and al fresco dining at River North's many restaurants.&nbsp;A July gallery walk has been around in the district for many years. This time of year galleries are eager to invite collectors and visitors to the city &nbsp;on self-guided tour of &nbsp;spaces located on Huron, Superior, and Wells Streets, while meeting artists, curators, and gallery staff.&nbsp;The Mid-Summer River North Gallery Walk is free and open to the public. Maps are available at Addington Gallery (704 N Wells St.)Some galleries are opening new exhibitions while others are hosting receptions for ongoing summer shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Participating galleries:<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/joan-holleb-heading-home">Addington Gallery</a> - Exhibiting Karen Perl<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/spring-summer-group-show">Carl Hammer Gallery</a> – Exhibiting Boundaries and Beyond: Imagined Landscapes<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/gallery-victor-armendariz">Gallery Victor Armendariz</a> – Exhibiting Don Pollack, Wesley Kimler, and Matthew Cook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/hilton-asmus-contemporary">Hilton | Asmus Contemporary</a> – Exhibiting Cristina Mittermeier<a href="http://www.zggallery.com">Zg Gallery</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/group-exhibition-featuring-meredith-kopelman-lynn-neuman-james-ostrander-ruth-poor">Zolla/Lieberman Gallery</a> – Exhibiting Vera Klement&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

River North's Mid-Summer Gallery Walk Happens Friday, July 12, 2024

<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/smp8yheaxkcbbkdwwtje.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;By BIANCA BOVAWilliam J. O’Brien is a world-maker. Working across a range of media that spans ceramics, bronze, drawing, painting, fiber, and steel, his ability to collate the output of his vast practice into a single coherent narrative that engulfs the physical spaces it occupies and hints at the psychic spaces of its inhabitants holds a singular power unrivaled by his similarly prodigious contemporaries.A prolific artist, O’Brien has already enjoyed a decades-spanning career that has included solo exhibitions at institutions including the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; the Renaissance Society, Chicago; KMAC Museum, Louisville; MAD Museum, New York; Witte De With, Rotterdam; and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City. His first major museum survey came in 2014 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, curated by Naomi Beckwith. His work resides in the permanent collections of museums including The Art Institute of Chicago; Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles and KMAC Museum, Louisville, among many others. He also holds a post as professor and former Chair in the Fine Arts department at School of the Art Institute of Chicago.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/vxbfquolaxuifrqzfnwj.jpg"><figcaption>WILLIAM J. O’BRIEN, Freak Flags, 2024, Installation view, ACKERMAN CLARKE, Chicago, IL USA &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;With this laundry list of accomplishments behind him–and having overcome a catastrophic studio fire in 2012 that destroyed hundreds of pieces of his work–O’Brien not only continues to pursue his practice, but to expand it. In 2023, he partnered with the Chicago Park District to install the exhibition Earth, Water, Fire, Wind &amp; Space at the historic Lincoln Park Conservatory. ​​The multimedia exhibition spanned both the Palm Room and the Show Room of the Victorian greenhouse, and featured over one hundred ceramic and papier-mâché sculptures integrated throughout the plant life, infrastructure, and water features therein. Reflecting on the exhibition, O’Brien notes, “The show at the conservatory was me thinking about where art can exist more outside of a traditional gallery or museum context.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/tckthnzrubkgjg1zilzy.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;This embrace of nontraditionalism extends into the latest expansion of O’Brien’s practice with the founding of Shadow Work Press, and the subsequent publication of the artist’s debut novel, Nighttime Kingdom.&nbsp;“The decision was, ‘If I'm going to publish a book, I want it to be on my terms, so I'm just gonna do the press,’” says O’Brien, “It was about reclaiming a sense of expression and of autonomy.”The novel, which features a foreword by T. Cole Rachel and cover design by Ben Tousley, marks O’Brien’s first foray into fiction writing. Its narrative arc follows protagonist Ted Krieger’s heart-wrenching journey as he navigates the haunting secrets of the small-town America in which he was raised, the tumultuous city of New York in which he lives, and the discovery that healing can only begin with the confrontation of the ghosts of the past.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419403/ys1sxoqnrchl2ioz5faf.jpg"><figcaption>WILLIAM J. O’BRIEN, Freak Flags, 2024, Installation view, ACKERMAN CLARKE, Chicago, IL USA &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;“The novel is a form of experimentation,” acknowledges O’Brien, “I have always had a relationship with language in some form or another within my practice. In my early career, and also recently this summer, I worked on zines, poetry, and self-published works that straddled the art, literary, and alternative comics audiences. For the recent novel Nighttime Kingdom, I approached writing the novel in the same way that I approach making my artwork. I view the embodiment of emotional and psychological states as a current core of what I do in my practice and approached writing the character development and plot for Nighttime Kingdom in the same way. Although the creative fields like to create tight lines between disciplines, I have never thought of my work as fitting neatly into one classification. The book is a story that incorporates drawings, and I view it in the same vein as how I sculpt clay and make drawings. It just so happens that it fell this time with this novel into a formal book."When asked about any biographical elements to the story, O’Brien clarifies, “There is a town called Burton, Ohio that has an Apple Butter Festival, and I did structure the novel's setting based on their town square–on my childhood memory of that town square. But the whole story is a total fictionalization. I was thinking about the emotional story arc. It’s about exposing the reality of the vulnerability of what it's like to be a queer person growing up in rural America, and what that feels like. I think the book is also about power, masculinity, violence, inherited expectations and tropes of masculinity. These can be heavy and personal topics. It’s not a light piece.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/q2cwvsch8apzkprshxrv.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Buoying up the heaviness of the narrative is the suite of drawings that appear throughout the novel’s pages. Neither explicitly illustrative nor tied directly to the storyline or to the characters of Nighttime Kingdom, these drawings (many of them hauntingly spare and gorgeously gestural) serve as a kind of ancillary punctuation, a means of emphasizing the atmosphere created in the book.&nbsp;“The drawings were a way of reclaiming a sense of imagination over a story that is very heavy,” says the artist, “I looked through twenty years of my sketchbooks and pulled the [drawings] that felt right, and placed them throughout the text. And that's what I liked so much about having them in, was that including them didn't feel like a device. It was not like these are drawings that are in service to this story in a particular way. It’s a form of straddling that I'm interested in. If someone reads the novel, and they have an emotional response, I'm like, ‘Oh, good. It's successful.’ They might not like it or they might not relate to the story, but if there is an emotional response that is elicited, in the same way they might have an emotional response looking at a sculptural work or a painting, then that to me that’s–well, it's the best I could ever expect.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419405/nxnt8qy6jnnomzlsjpls.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;On the heels of the successful releases of both hardcover and paperback editions of Nighttime Kingdom, Shadow Work Press is now set to release a series of three zines by O’Brien over the course of the summer of 2024.&nbsp;“I'm really excited about the zines,” O’Brien says,” I would say that on some level, I feel like I'm reclaiming more of my creative autonomy that was lost along the way of my going from an emerging artist to, I guess you’d say, an established artist. I feel like I’m in what is actually a nice chapter, where I've kind of started to do more projects that are more in line with things that I'm just interested in doing.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419406/ap6fdnak6rlxnzqgudob.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;This sensibility was palpable in O’Brien’s recent exhibition Freak Flags at Chicago’s Ackerman Clarke Gallery. The exhibition, which to the credit of gallery owner John Schmid was surprisingly reserved in both tone and volume, consisted of just four colored pencil and ink on paper drawings by the artist, each roughly 80 inches by 60 inches in size. Their monumentality and wall power unequivocally held the space, and created an environment that rewarded the kind of long, slow, deliberate looking that best benefits the depth and complexity of O’Brien’s drawings, but which many prior exhibitions elsewhere containing a higher volume of his work typically sacrifice in service to including a more definitively representational survey of the wide range of media he employs.“I would say that drawing is the foundational language of my practice,” O’Brien says,&nbsp; “It is the core that allows me to extend and experiment with other types of materials.&nbsp;Of his influences, he adds, “I grew up in rural northeastern Ohio, where there is a rich history of craft and folk art, and I feel a certain affinity to the Imagist artists of Chicago. I see no hierarchies between traditional academic artists and self-taught artists, and I personally have connected more with visionary artists because of their use of embodiment as the material center of making and creating art.”It is perhaps this nonhierarchical attitude, with its attendant egolessness and its openness to experimentation and acts of personal interpretation, that characterizes what might be (in less thoughtful hands) a disparate practice as not only a coherent one, but one which is so richly developed as to always leave those who traverse its output wishing they could remain within its confines, and press forward to reach the furthest recesses of its great depths.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419407/ovhlgsawmhwkarpr0sqn.jpg"><figcaption>WILLIAM J. O’BRIEN, Maze, 2018, Colored pencil and ink on paper, 60h x 75w in, 152.4h x 190.5w cm, Unframed; 65 1/4h x 80w x 2.75d in, 165.7h x 203.2w x 7d cm, Framed</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://williamjobrien.com">williamjobrien.com</a>Purchase O'Brien's new book at <a href="https://williamjobrien.bigcartel.com">williamjobrien.bigcartel.com</a>View O'Brien's exhibition at <a href="https://ackermanclarke.com/William-J-O-Brien-Freak-Flags">Ackerman Clarke</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

The Prolific William J. O’Brien is a World-Maker

<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><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/sj4yenxjkisggwdigupy.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/teresa-baker-shift-in-the-clouds">Teresa Baker: Shift in the Clouds</a>Opening: Wednesday, June 26, 5:30 – 8&nbsp;pmThe Arts Club of Chicago&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/ytk1xdaajskngtkafvp6.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/rebecca-shore-being-there">Rebecca Shore: Being There</a>Opening: Thursday, June 27, 6 – 8&nbsp;pmCorbett vs. Dempsey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/sbp9jrv3f2npgtiqwyro.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-bigger-table-50-years-of-the-chicago-poetry-center">A Bigger Table: 50 Years of the Chicago Poetry Center</a>June 27Poetry Foundation&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/iyd1v37xiji8c66ybk1e.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/connected-landscapes-the-macinnes-brothers">Connected Landscapes: The MacInnes Brothers</a>​Opening: Thursday, Jun 27, &nbsp;7–9&nbsp;pmGallery of Contemporary Mosaics&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/ujc9b02jrrcojzvhtvhf.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/indigo-seven-gilded-agility">Indigo Seven: Gilded Agility</a>Opening: Friday, June 28, 6 – 8&nbsp;pmInternational Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419405/y8p0pjchhhl69h8pvac0.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/grid-luck-alberto-aguilar">Grid Luck: Alberto Aguilar</a>Opening: Sunday, June 30, 2 – 6&nbsp;pmThe Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA)&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

New Exhibitions June 26 - 30

<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/v1721419401/pvztobn7y9rikwtlgvjb.png"></figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/deconstructing-paper-pulp">Deconstructing Paper &amp; PULP</a>Opening: Friday, June 21, 5:30 – 8&nbsp;pmThe Art Center Highland Park&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/qkxj1gbsoyisnb9a3k9o.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/third-fridays-in-bridgeport-d26e08d8-79d9-4c96-9eb0-1694a3cbecb2">Third Fridays in Bridgeport</a>Friday, June 21, 5 – 9&nbsp;pmAlma Art &amp; Interiors&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/tprx4yckrdqej6wnrn8s.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ellsworth-kelly-spectrum-colors-arranged-by-chance">Ellsworth Kelly: Spectrum Colors Arranged by Chance</a>Exhibition begins June 22The Art Institute of Chicago&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419403/puu6rlvrnj1gnvuv7wzt.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/laleh-motlagh-talk">Laleh Motlagh Talk</a>Saturday, June 22, 1 – 2&nbsp;pmSoNa Chicago Art Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/gwzl2zo0mqobspzlsbxz.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/words-of-art-dennis-lee-mitchell-and-rhonda-gates">Words of Art: Dennis Lee Mitchell and Rhonda Gates</a>Saturday, June 22, 2 – 4&nbsp;pmZolla / Lieberman Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/bcssg5k9yznmogmzyl8l.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/artist-walkthrough">Artist Walkthrough</a>Saturday, June 22, 2 – 4&nbsp;pmWoman Made Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419405/kjysgayiwn15ditoqstb.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/meet-our-collective-artists-8deb7934-aeb8-4a56-8b4a-0b1b2c3a1cf5">Kay Smith | Acrylic Paintings</a>Opening: Saturday, June 22, 6 – 9&nbsp;pmBlue Moon Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

New Exhibitions June 21 & 22

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419401/w6puqqipds09cvyepknr.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;By GINNY VAN ALYEALast week Jessica Cochran and Angie Lennard hosted a lively launch for their new print/publishing venture, called Process/Process&nbsp;The launch party took place in West Town at 1821 W Hubbard, where Process/Process will operate, with many area collectors, dealers, curators and artists in attendance. Five new print collaborations were also on display. As Cochran shared with CGN, "We are going to be working with artists to make and sell limited edition prints, and our inaugural portfolio (half of which just debuted) features Michelle Grabner, Candida Alvarez, Kay Rosen, Alberto Aguilar, and many others." She cited Chicago's Anchor Graphics as a model for what Process/Process hopes to do.&nbsp;Process/Process invites artists to make new artworks that adapt the material, aesthetic, and critical possibilities of printmaking. By moving the ideas and processes that drive an artist's practice into the realm of the printed edition, Process/Process enables artists to develop exploratory new works. All projects are close collaborations between the artist, Angee Lennard, printer, and Cochran, partner.Upon producing and publishing new editions with artists, Process/Process places them into private and public collections.&nbsp;View the full portfolio <a href="https://process-process.com">online</a>. Works are also available for sale on their <a href="https://process-process.com">website</a>, and viewings can be arranged by appointment. Process/Process also offers boutique contract printing and art advisory services.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419402/daxyueq5cghte76fzttf.jpg"><figcaption>Candida Alvarez, Adjust your eyes, 2024, Lower right, Screenprint with debasement on Arches 88, 12 x 14" (paper), 4 7/8 x 6 7/8" (image)&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419403/dy8drwjafkqfmuf5eaur.jpg"><figcaption>Alex Bradley Cohen, Place #1, 2024, Etching, 11 ⅞ x 15 ¾ (paper), 8 ⅜ x 12 inches (image). Edition of 20 plus 2 AP. &nbsp;</figcaption></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419404/ui1pdjn7tjsw8ccjp69g.jpg"><figcaption>Kay Rosen, Parts of Speech, 2024</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419405/cgpyjmt8dht9cyosohfz.jpg"><figcaption>A work by Michelle Grabner</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;</body></html>

Process/Process: A New Print/Publishing Venture with an Eye on the Future

<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/jhgzrwaidkwius75orzw.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/implied-motion-stanley-dean-edwards-and-david-roth">Implied Motion: Stanley Dean Edwards and David Roth</a>Opening: Friday, June 14, 5 – 9&nbsp;pmOliva Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419396/srine2u9vdqwl9gvlvt8.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/sharon-louden-perennials">Sharon Louden, PERENNIALS</a>Opening: Friday, June 14, 6 – 8&nbsp;pmENGAGE Projects&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419397/mmnvmfn1xkewytbbmow6.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/jessie-mott">Jessie Mott: Pluto</a>Opening: Saturday, June 15, 2 – 5&nbsp;pmGoldfinch&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419398/q0eknvzytfh9xk4ylw57.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/teen-show-a9c01ed3-7296-4475-a805-778b79cf71f6">Pit Stop</a>Exhibition begins June 15Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419399/k8n3snrro3ge75btuaxi.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/diana-motta-metaphysical">Diana Motta: Metaphysical</a>Opening: Saturday, June 15, 5 – 9&nbsp;pmSTASIAS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419400/f1z4ewtkbmjjc6myzkyh.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/spring-lab-2024-exhibition">Spring &amp; Lab 2024 Exhibition</a>Saturday, June 15, 4 – 7&nbsp;pmMarwen&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

New Exhibitions June 14 & 15

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/qdoy2rglttzuxrsocsxf.jpg"><figcaption>Moises Salazar Tlatenchi – "'In Your Light' highlights how nature is a safe space for LGBTOIA + members. As many queer people may feel unsafe or anxious in public city spaces, nature and green spaces will always be a haven for the LGBTQIA+ community."</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;By GINNY VAN ALYEAWhen my children were very young we spent many hours at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. It was a wonderful destination for busy little people where we could engage their senses and put them in touch with nature in the middle of the city. A favorite spot in the museum was always the Butterfly Haven, where my daughter could stand still and just wait for a butterfly to land on her for a few moments.&nbsp;During a walk around Lincoln Park one morning last week I came across the Flight of Butterflies exhibition on the grounds near the Museum. On view through fall 2025 the exhibition stars nearly 2 dozen works around the museum and the surrounding park plus another 10 or so placed downtown. These works, like the natural creatures that inspired them, will not stay put for long. Soon they will migrate around the city. &nbsp;A map on the museum's website shows where each work will end up so you can <a href="https://naturemuseum.org/exhibits/flight-of-butterflies">follow their journey</a>.&nbsp;This city-wide exhibit merges nature, art, and storytelling as a call to action for wildlife conservation. Local artists adorn butterfly sculptures with original designs, expressing their unique connections to nature.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419396/ewp2gkxx9aroayg4cbcp.jpg"><figcaption>Leonard Surajaya – "This sculpture is adorned with the eyes of my family and friends in both Indonesia and Chicago. Connecting communities in mv hometown and mv new found home, I set forth a vision of diversity and pride in belonging to our home on earth."</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;The list of artists who have collaborated on this exhibition, creating uniquely beautiful creatures that stay put for more than a moment, features many familiar Chicago names, from Candace Hunter, to Leonard Surajaya, Rubén Aguirre, Yvette Mayorga and CGN's spring 2024 cover artist Salvador Andrade Arévalo, as well as many others.&nbsp;The Nature Museum supports global conservation of tropical butterfly habitats through partnerships with butterfly farms through the <a href="https://naturemuseum.org/exhibits/judy-istock-butterfly-haven">Judy Istock Butterfly Haven</a>. The museum says that this project amplifies their institutional mission to create positive connections between people and nature, and illuminates their vital conservation stories, and Flight of Butterflies brings the delight of art and nature to the public.&nbsp;April 2024 – September 2025Through July 2024: On Nature Museum Grounds + Michigan Avenue<a href="https://naturemuseum.org/exhibits/flight-of-butterflies">Details</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419397/jsvebf3iwvellhiemskb.jpg"><figcaption>Ariée Carter – "My nature is wonderful. lt's comfortable like my dresses. I created Junona. She is inspired by Christian Dior. She is friendly, courageous, kind, and gentle. When people see her, I want them to think about flowers and the sparkles in the water."&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419398/tmfmoigdy0khvly8ltgo.jpg"><figcaption>Melanie Vazquez – "This sculpture pays tribute to Mexican culture and honors my roots through nature's interconnectedness.Inspired by papel picado, each delicate cut-out symbolizes nature's essence, evoking growth, vitality, and spiritual harmony. Through this piece, I celebrate life's beauty, reflecting on nature's enduring spirit in my origins and heritage."</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419398/sbjlyi77bn3y3vrfikrc.jpg"><figcaption>Liz Flores – "My butterfly is an exploration of home and bow we all search for a place to exist. Each part of the butterfly wing contains a figurative element, bridging nature and people. It celebrates the act of migration. the search for something better, and nature's quest to not only survive but thrive."</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;</body></html>

Among the Butterflies in the City 

<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/nwndkq2xxo9dnn7i6ras.jpg"><figcaption>Vivian Maier, Chicago, IL, 1960. ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY.</figcaption></figure><a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/first-us-retrospective-vivian-maier-street-photographer-2497184">In Her First U.S. Retrospective, Vivian Maier Proves to Be Much More than a Street Photographer</a>In 2011, a new art star burst onto the scene. A nanny and a self-taught photographer, Vivian Maier had roamed the streets of New York City and Chicago in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, her pint-sized charges in tow, snapping pictures of derelicts and swells, skyscrapers and train yards, naked mannequins and discarded dolls.She had taken hundreds of thousands of these photos. She stashed them in a storage unit until she couldn’t afford the payments any longer. She died destitute in 2009, at the age of 83. But then a young real estate developer named John Maloof bought the contents of her locker at a Chicago auction, scanned what he found, and uploaded it to Flickr.Via Artnet&nbsp;<a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/long-lost-degas-2495196">Artwork Bought Online for $1,000 Identified as a Long-Lost Degas Worth $13 million</a>A savvy online thrifter got the deal of a lifetime when they spotted a pastel drawing listed as a “fake” Degas in 2021. The surprisingly masterful composition caught the punter’s eye and, with the help of expert Michel Schulman, they determined that it was most likely Éloge du maquillage (In praise of cosmetics)&nbsp;(1876), a known brothel scene painted by Degas that had been recorded as missing for several decades.Via Artnet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/art-basel-2024-top-price-secondary-market-artworks-1234708939/">A First Look at the Big Ticket Artworks that Galleries Are Bringing to Art&nbsp;Basel</a>If one were to liken the marquee New York auctions in May to the homecoming game between rival high schools, then Art Basel is certainly the art world’s prom. Next week, 287 galleries from around the world, including the four biggest, will jet to Switzerland, closely followed by the traveling circus of collectors, art advisers, and, of course, journalists.Via Artnews&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbez.org/neighborhoods/2024/05/28/whats-that-building-former-little-village-firehouse?tpcc=cst_cm">The National Museum of Mexican Art plans to turn long-vacant structure into the Yollocalli youth arts center</a>In Little Village, an old fire station has stood empty and unused since its modern replacement opened three blocks away in 2011.The building finally heads toward a new use as a youth arts center filled with performance and studio spaces, an indoor garden made from an old spiral staircase and disco balls.“Lots of disco balls,” said Vanessa Sanchez, the director of Yollocalli Arts Reach, a program of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen.Yollocalli, which means “House of the Heart” in the indigenous Mexican language Nahuatl, is adding this facility to its longtime home in the Little Village Boys and Girls Club.The museum bought the mothballed fire station from the city for $1 and is starting a $2 million rehab of the building at 2358 S. Whipple St. and plans to open it in early 2025.Via WBEZ&nbsp;<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/06/05/insect-asylum-aims-to-inspire-with-public-cicada-art-now-on-display-cicada-parade-a">Insect Asylum aims to inspire with public cicada art, now on display in Chicago neighborhoods</a>For those enjoying the hunt for cicadas, you’re in for a big treat. Really big.In Ravenswood Manor alone, residents have spotted a rare silver, jewel-eyed cicada, as well as one with blue eyes and multicolored wings. Another cicada has the familiar red eyes and orange wings, but its shell is a plastic shopping bag.These new creatures are 18-inch, plaster sculptures decorated by Chicago artists, and they are popping up in parks, in front of homes and even on light poles.Via Chicago Sun-Times&nbsp;</body></html>

What We're Reading: 6/6/24

<html><head></head><body>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/xahqayvkkqwuep2pdmtj.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/laura-catherwood-all-things-stirring-solo-show">Laura Catherwood: All Things Stirring</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5 – 8&nbsp;pmVertical Gallery – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419396/qtyr8q7dg4odtomzros3.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/david-keel">David Keel: A Walk in the Stars</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5 – 7&nbsp;pmVivid Art Gallery – Winnetka&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419397/oms4qxe1xqxu94opxppn.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/katherine-steichen-rosing-atmospheric-intricacies">Katherine Steichen Rosing: Atmospheric Intricacies</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5 – 8&nbsp;pmJames May Gallery – Milwaukee, WI&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419398/xcilewd2uarlczwghfqz.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/joe-forte-american-wallpaper">Joe Forte: AMERICAN WALLPAPER</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5 – 8&nbsp;pmARC Gallery – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419399/plw73rb3l6cmxyjw5tjw.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/moises-salazar-in-my-arms">Moises Salazar: In my Arms</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 6 – 9&nbsp;pmEpiphany Center for the Arts – West Loop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events?filter=upcoming">View the full CGN calendar here</a></body></html>

New Exhibitions June 7 (Part I)

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419395/prtpdbllija48wvdx1hr.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/krista-franklin-any-bright-spark">Krista Franklin: Any Bright Spark</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5–8&nbsp;pmWestern Exhibitions – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419396/ejizsjafbqypeykhk9tc.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/noe-martinezl-as-raices-conversan-por-debajo-de-la-tierra">NOÉ MARTÍNEZL: as raíces conversan por debajo de la tierra</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5–7:30&nbsp;pmPATRON – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419397/ldcdlqpshrrjxysomu9n.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/collage-culture">Collage Culture</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 4–7&nbsp;pmmoniquemeloche – West Town<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419398/wek4zl5hauzgwmlaekdx.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/erin-jane-nelson-c569dbcd-f421-40fd-8004-92d3d551be4c">Erin Jane Nelson</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5–8&nbsp;pmDOCUMENT – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419399/oapoqrjy13tmwdwcwjik.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/matt-paweski">Matt Paweski: Table Setting</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5–8&nbsp;pmVolume Gallery – West Town&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419400/hmfhqpqp3azi23oyls5r.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/constructions-1979-2011">Constructions: 1979 - 2011</a>Opening: Friday, June 7, 5–7&nbsp;pmRhona Hoffman Gallery – West Town&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events?filter=upcoming">View the full CGN calendar here</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

New Exhibitions June 7 (Part II)

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419390/aiwtedjtxuuovfbe9q1x.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Judy Ledgerwood to Be Represented by GRAY in New York, In Addition to Global Rep with Rhona HoffmanGRAY announced it is pleased to welcome Judy Ledgerwood to the gallery’s roster of artists. In a painting career spanning four decades, Ledgerwood has confronted and expanded the history of abstract painting by decentering perceptions of its neutrality and prioritizing visual engagement and pleasure.&nbsp;GRAY will represent Ledgerwood in New York and globally alongside Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago. Ledgerwood’s first solo exhibition will open at GRAY New York in Fall 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419391/gvgpcvphxfxd8zgxolzi.png"></figure>&nbsp;Mongerson Gallery Artists Part of Exhibition in DetroitMongerson Gallery is pleased to announce the inclusion of works by Charles McGee and Harold Neal in the upcoming exhibition&nbsp;Kinship: The Legacy of Gallery 7&nbsp;at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.&nbsp;The exhibition, to which Mongerson Gallery was honored to provide the loan of multiple works,&nbsp; highlights the cultural legacy of Gallery 7, one of the first galleries in Detroit dedicated to the work of Black artists. Founded by Charles McGee, Gallery 7 was active from 1970 through 1979, and was central in establishing&nbsp;Detroit's artistic legacy and place in the national Black Arts Movement.&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@mongersongallery.com">Please Contact the Gallery</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419392/zy8efkg9ltvkelkyljsr.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://theartcenterhp.org">The Art Center Highland Park to Host Late Night June 12</a>Late Night at the Galleries resumes Wednesday, June 12 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. when TAC opens up the outdoor lawn for these monthly summer events and invites anyone and everyone to hang out, listen to music, and peruse their art exhibits.TAC's next Late Night will feature The Crossing Borders Music String Quartet and Nisa Pov, Resident Artist of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum. This will be an amazing night of new arrangements of Cambodian classics. Performances will include beautiful new arrangements made by Crossing Borders Music violinist Rasa Mahmoudian and overseen by Pov for the Cambodian Day of Remembrance.Bring a blanket, dinner, lawn chairs, and enjoy a concert on the TAC Lawn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

CGN Art World Recap: 6/3/24

<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/v1721419391/syjg7s8qhlkvuxzoawvy.jpg"><figcaption>Terry Evans, 2004 Opening of Millennium Park</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;This summer Millennium Park celebrates its 20th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, CGN is strolling the paths of well-known and hidden treasures to reexamine a park that is much more than what it seems.&nbsp;By MARY DE YOEIf you moved to Chicago in the last 15-20 years, it is likely unfathomable to imagine a time when downtown directions were not centered around relation to “The Bean.” The 33-foot tall, 66-foot long stainless steel Cloud Gate by British artist Anish Kapoor became an instant touchstone and meet-up spot. Equally difficult to imagine is a downtown summer day without children splashing through Crown Fountain. These works, along with the curling steel of Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion are the gravitational pull of Millennium Park, which in addition to these monumental pieces also boasts one of the city’s best galleries.Millennium Park is the product of a partnership between the City of Chicago and the Millennium Park Foundation, which was established in 1998 to support the vision, design, and construction of the park. The idea was to create a “world class arts and culture space.” Many artists, designers, and architects were involved in the plans for the park. As a result the park, which houses permanent and temporary installations, is an aggregate of styles and voices.One of the most prominent voices is Spanish artist Jaume Plensa who designed Crown Fountain, which sits at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street. Two enormous towers bookend a wide shallow reflecting pond. At all times of the year, the facades are illuminated with video of the faces of Chicagoans. For the project, the artist photographed 1,000 Chicagoans representing Chicago’s vast demographics in terms of age, gender and ethnicity. During the summer months, water falls from the tops of the towers into the pond and flows from the open mouths of the faces on the screen.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419392/evhjd8f2hewyqrhmbu0n.jpg"><figcaption>Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate. Photo Patrick L.Pyszka, City of Chicago. &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419392/ks2dviu1vgjtj1ysb1ba.jpg"><figcaption>Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate under construction. Cloud Gate was created by using computer technology to cut 168 massive stainless-steel plates into precise shapes which were then pieced together like a puzzle and welded shut. Once fully assembled, the 12-foot-high central arch provided a “gate” to the concave chamber on the underside of the sculpture prompting Kapoor to formally name the piece Cloud Gate. A network of two large internal rings connects a truss that allowed the sculpture to be assembled and direct the weight to two points at the base. The stainless-steel skin was attached to the internal structure with flexible connectors that allow it to expand and contract in response to the extreme weather conditions in Chicago. Cloud Gate measures 33 feet high, 42 feet wide, 66 feet long and weighing 110 tons. Photo info courtesy Millennium Park Foundation.&nbsp; &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Considering the piece on the upcoming anniversary, Plensa said, “Obviously, I am thrilled by the way that the city has embraced the Crown Fountain [...] How beautiful it is to see the piece changing throughout the seasons. Every time I visit Chicago, I can see how much my original idea to create a gathering place, continues its purpose to bring people in to share the dreams of a community.”Paul Gray, Principal at Gray, which represents Plensa shared this about the origins of the fountain: “Crown Fountain was born as a patron’s challenge and an artist dreaming “what could a fountain be?” In his first days considering this question, Jaume Plensa focused on water[...] After also considering what artists who came before him had done across time, he settled on a few principles; his fountain should allow us to realize the widely shared dream of walking on water, his fountain should allow water to do as it does in nature - fall, his fountain should invite people into its beating heart, his fountain should depict not gargoyles or idealistic maidens, but real people, and his fountain should use media of our time.”&nbsp;<blockquote>Every time I visit Chicago, I can see how much my original idea to create a gathering place, continues its purpose to bring people in to share the dreams of a community.”Jaume Plensa</blockquote>&nbsp;Some temporary exhibitions in the park have followed a similar approach to media. For instance in 2012 the artists Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero of Luftwerk created Luminous Field in the ATT Plaza (also known as, “where The Bean is”). Accompanied by music composed by Owen Clayton Condon, for 10 days the project illuminated the ground beneath the sculpture with projections that video-mapped the tiles of the plaza creating a grid-like pattern of shapes and colors, which were reflected - quite stunningly - on the bean’s surface.At the north and south ends of the park the Boeing Galleries present rotating exhibitions. Tucked deeper into the park, away from the high-activity zones, these spaces offer surprising and unexpected encounters. Most recently, the galleries featured the work of two Chicago-based artists, Edra Soto and Christine Tarkowski.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419393/ltt97quf2xfyhizninvy.jpg"><figcaption>Edra Soto, Screenhouse. Photo by Georgia Hampton &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Soto’s elegant Screenhouse–a 10-foot structure of concrete blocks, which closely resembled what its title suggests–examined the decorative screens, known as “rejas” and “quiebrasoles,” which are ubiquitous in Soto’s birthplace in Puerto Rico. Tarkowski’s work, titled When we call the Earth by way of distinction a planet and the Moon a satellite, we should consider whether we do not, in a certain sense, mistake the matter. Perhaps - and not unlikely - the Moon is the planet and the Earth the satellite! Are we not a larger moon to the Moon, than she is to us? asked viewers to traverse heavy boulders beneath dozens of hanging objects made of colorful hand blown glass.When We Call...., shared Tarkowski, [is] a physically processional experience for the viewer, where one travels within the work, sandwiched between the earth and the sky, the concrete monoliths and the ethereal glass objects. The concrete sculptures may seem old and stony, are obviously man-made as re-creations or possibly a dislocated hunk from a larger whole originating elsewhere…. And the glass shapes miraculously floating overhead in their intentionally unnatural color palette. Their shapes are ambiguous but suggestive of a plastic bag caught in the trees, or perhaps rocks used in ornamental landscaping.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419394/iuycztjl6t65nj7hlgjd.jpg"><figcaption>Christine Tarkowski, When we call the Earth by way of distinction a planet and the Moon a satellite, we should consider whether we do not, in a certain sense, mistake the matter. Perhaps - and not unlikely - the Moon is the planet and the Earth the satellite! Are we not a larger moon to the Moon, than she is to us?&nbsp; &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Since opening, the Boeing Galleries, which rotate approximately every 18-24 months have exhibited work by more than 10 contemporary artists from Chicago and around the globe including Jean-Luc Mylayne, Chakaia Booker, Jun Kaneko, Yvonne Domenge and a special 10th anniversary exhibition of four sculptures by Jaume Plensa. Plensa’s 1004 Portraits, comprised of four cast iron and resin sculptures of young girls, “continues the story of the original 1,000 portraits of Chicago residents that illuminate the Crown Fountain every day.”&nbsp;“As part of Millennium Park’s [...] 20th anniversary and in partnership with the Millennium Park Foundation,” said James Castillo, Director of Public Art at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, “we look forward to seeing new public art installed in the Boeing Galleries, including an augmented reality exhibition featuring talented Chicago artists,[...]. Millennium Park has become synonymous with world-renowned public art, and we are delighted to see new artists sharing their work with the public.”#&nbsp;To read more about Millennium Park's 20th Anniversary celebrations and events <a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html">click here</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

20 Years of Drawing the World to Chicago Millennium Park

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419390/wmomhafzuar6bsuo3axi.png"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/like-queer-animals-curated-by-vasia-rigou">Fleurs de Macadam</a>Opening: Wednesday, May 29, 5 – 8&nbsp;pmChicago Artists Coalition (CAC)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419391/d5wijpmwplljcjuqb9rc.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/time-and-again">Time and Again</a>Opening: Thursday, May 30, 4 – 7&nbsp;pmPistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry and Objects&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419392/rjvr9zyzlqkpyhonwluj.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/opening-reception-with-artist-talk-by-dakota-mace">Opening reception with artist talk by Dakota Mace</a>Opening: Thursday, May 30, 5 – 8&nbsp;pmMuseum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419393/bgkwi32sn3v9xwyk9jvo.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/nate-otto">Nate Otto</a>Opening: Friday, May 31, 7 – 10&nbsp;pmFirecat Projects&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419394/uzsxxinq6no3netnclvw.jpg"></figure><a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/laleh-motlagh-entanglement">Laleh Motlagh: Entanglement</a>Opening: Friday, May 31, 6 – 9&nbsp;pmSoNa Chicago Art Gallery&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

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