American Framing

Wrightwood 659 continues its focus on architecture and socially relevant art with a reinstallation of American Framing, the U.S. entry in the Pavilion for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia (2021). In addressing the theme of the Exhibition, “How Will We Live Together?”, the U.S. entry presented wood-framed construction, a building practice popularized in America in the 19th century, and still used in 90 percent of new homes today. This presentation includes a three-story installation in Wrightwood 659’s atrium—an abstraction of a wood-framed building through which visitors enter the exhibition—as well as scale models of historic buildings researched and designed by students at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Architecture. The exhibition also includes newly commissioned photographs from Daniel Shea and Chris Strong, as well as furniture produced in common lumber by Norman Kelley and Ania Jaworska.American Framing was made possible by the The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State and the University of Illinois, Chicago, and curated by architects and professors Paul Preissner and Paul Andersen. The Chicago presentation of American Framing is the first time that this project will be seen in the United States. American Framing is presented at Wrightwood 659 by Alphawood Exhibitions in cooperation with the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC).

Hours of Operation 
Fridays 12–7pm
Saturdays 10am–5pm 

Tickets
Tickets for the exhibition will be $15 and available online only, beginning April 7, at https://tickets.wrightwood659.org/events. Please note, admission is by advance ticket only. Walk-ups are not permitted.

COVID-19 Response 
Wrightwood 659 requires all staff and guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination and booster prior to admission to Wrightwood 659. Proof of vaccine and booster can be official vaccine card or a photo of the card, along with a matching photo ID. Any individual who does not meet these requirements will not be permitted to enter the building. Children who are ineligible for vaccination (0-4 years old) cannot be admitted to the building. Masks will continue to be required throughout the gallery. Read more about Wrightwood 659’s health and safety policy at https://wrightwood659.org/terms-and-conditions/health-safety/.  

About Wrightwood 659
Wrightwood 659 is a private, non-collecting institution devoted to socially engaged art and to architecture. Located at 659 W. Wrightwood Avenue, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, the intimate space officially opened in late 2018 and presents two to three public exhibitions annually. Wrightwood 659 was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando, who transformed a 1920s building with his signature concrete forms and poetic treatment of natural light. For additional information: https://wrightwood659.org