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Selva Aparicio discusses her practice in which she often uses natural materials such as oyster shells, leaves, and cicada wings to delve into questions regarding death, memory, mourning, and grief. Sharing points in the arc of her work, Aparicio provides context for the MCA’s new Emerge acquisition, her Ode to the Unclaimed Dead (2022), consisting of a pine casket—synonymous with pauper’s graves and potter’s fields—delicately studded with dandelion seeds, the ultimate symbol of hope and potential. The annual Emerge-sponsored artist talk honors Sara Albrecht, MCA Trustee and former Chair of Emerge.

Edlis Neeson Theater

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 

220 E Chicago Ave 

Chicago, IL 60611