History of the Chess Queen

HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN

1. OPENING FUNDRAISER: Thursday, October 10, 6–9pm

2. PUBLIC OPENING RECEPTION TO THE PUBLIC: Friday, October 11 from 5–8 pm 

Morgan Arts Complex – 3622 S. Morgan Street, Chicago

1. FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR CHICAGO CHESS FOUNDATION

CHICAGO – Hilton Contemporary (Morgan Arts Complex, 3622 S. Morgan Street) presents “History of the Chess Queen”, an exhibition that celebrates the ingenuity, intuition, power, vulnerability and transformation of a board game that has paralleled the events of human history for 1500 years.  

Inspired by “The Birth of the Chess Queen,” a historical text examining the evolution of the chess queen by author Marilyn Yalom, the exhibition opens on Thursday, October 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm with a fundraising event for the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Chess Foundation.

Hilton Contemporary is proud to partner with the CCF, who for the past 10 years, has impacted over 10,000 students, hosted 70+ school tournaments, and traveled 10,000+ miles international to bring the joy and benefits of chess to communities around the world. Their programs utilize the game of chess to transmit academic, social-emotional, and leadership development skills.

Tickets are $150 🎈♟️

Purchase tickets: CLICK HERE.

October 10, 2024 – Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate a decade of empowering youth and Chicago communities through chess! 🎈♟️️This special event will be a night to remember, filled with inspiring stories, exciting chess matches, and a look back at the incredible journey of the Chicago Chess Foundation.

2. OPENING RECEPTION TO THE PUBLIC

Friday, October 11 from 5-8 pm

MorganArts Complex, 3622 S. Morgan Street, Chicago

Inspired by Stanford University Professor Marilyn Yalom’s book “Birth of the Chess Queen,” painters, sculptors, photographers, poets and multimedia artists bring a global interpretation to a game that became the reflection and evolution of human history since its inception 1500 years ago.

“Everyone knows that the queen is the most dominant piece in chess, but few people know that the game existed for five hundred years without her.” The History of the Chess Queen pays tribute to “The Queen” and her rise to become the most powerful piece on a board game that originated in 6th century India as a war game.

The Chess Queen did not always exist as an opponent. The pawns were the foot soldiers and the king had a vizier (or advisor) in the place of what we now know as the queen. The game traveled from India through Persia and the Arab lands, up through North Africa until, finally, it landed in Southern Spain with the Moors. Only until 1000 AD did the queen appear on the board. She held little power. Just like the vizier, she could only move one space at a time. Fast forward to the 15th Century, as Queen Isabella of Castile was the most powerful woman in the world, the chess queen evolved to become the most powerful piece on the board.

The exhibition traces the evolution of this now-crucial piece that mirrors many of the trials and tribulations of human beings. Intelligence, grace, and elegance are central themes to the show. This exhibition attempts to display the evolution of a simple board game that originated with an all male cast to how the most powerful character evolved to become the only female member of game.  

HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN runs thru December 20, 2024