<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092759/bxxambeyczkaaxm69zqk.jpg" changes="" artists="" and="" curator="" bob="" faust_photo="" by="" walter="" s="" mitchell="" iii,="" city="" of="" chicago.jpg=""><figcaption>Track(ed) Changes artists. Photo by Walter S Mitchell III, City of Chicago &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>Via PRCHICAGO—Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced several public art projects to be completed this summer and fall, including a neighborhood murals initiative as well as unique artwork by Chicago artists on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue, Green, and Orange lines. The artist-designed CTA train wraps will be on display starting in mid-August, as will many of the neighborhood murals being created by mainly Chicago-based artists in collaboration with community organizations — to be installed at public sites in Humboldt Park, the West Loop, and Woodlawn/Washington Park. Additional murals will debut this fall in the Bronzeville, Edgewater, Mayfair, South Chicago, and Uptown communities. These new neighborhood murals will interpret themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and inclusion and will also celebrate Chicago’s Blues and House music legacies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Chicago is embracing public art as a defining characteristic of our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “My administration through DCASE is currently managing nearly 80 public art projects in airports, transit hubs, and other spaces — totaling $11 million in investments across 26 wards. We’re proud to share Chicago’s story and the power of the arts with residents in diverse communities across this great city, and with visitors from across the globe.”“The new artist-designed train wraps are unique ‘moving murals’ on display throughout Chicago,” shared DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “Mayor Brandon Johnson and I believe that public art tells the story of our city — its beauty, its resilience, the soul of Chicago. We’re thrilled to be showcasing local artists and cultural communities on the CTA and with neighborhood murals.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://meltwater-apps-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/5a04d8a0b64871151db4c421/blobid2_1723489955320.jpg"><figcaption>Pictured: Renderings of the artist-designed train wraps project, “Track(ed) Changes”</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;The artist-designed train wraps project, titled “Track(ed) Changes: Democracy runs through our neighborhoods,” is produced and project managed by the DCASE Public Art team in collaboration with the CTA—and curated by Chicago-based graphic designer and artist Bob Faust. Participating artists include: Brandon Breaux, Bob Faust, Kristoffer McAfee, Noel Mercado, Carlos Rolón, Esperanza Rosas, Territory, and youth artists with Urban Gateways.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092760/kldw2hzz63gmyf8ht20c.jpg"><figcaption>Track(ed) Changes artist and curator Bob Faust. Photo by Walter S Mitchell III, City of Chicago &nbsp;</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;The aforementioned neighborhood murals initiative includes:<ul><li>Bronzeville neighborhood (Martin Luther King Community Center) in collaboration with Dorian Sylvain Studio, LLC / Mural Moves; celebrating the legacy of the Blues in Chicago; by Chicago-based artist Arthur Wright</li><li>Edgewater neighborhood (Edgewater Branch Library) in collaboration with the Chicago Public Art Group; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Brooklyn-based artist Tomokazu Matsuyama</li><li>Humboldt Park neighborhood (Erie Division Street Health Center) in collaboration with Yollocalli Arts Reach; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Chicago-based artist Ceci Beavens</li><li>Mayfair neighborhood (Mayfair Branch Library) in collaboration with Yollocalli Arts Reach; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Chicago-based artist Sentrock</li><li>South Chicago neighborhood (Vodak-East Side Branch Library) in collaboration with Englewood Arts Collective; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Chicago-based artist Oscar Joyo</li><li>Uptown neighborhood (Uptown Branch Library) in collaboration with the Chicago Public Art Group; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Chicago-based artist Max Sansing</li><li>West Loop neighborhood (Office of Emergency Management &amp; Communications/OEMC Garage) in collaboration with Englewood Arts Collective; celebrating House music and its influence; by Chicago-based artists Kayla Mahaffey and Rahmaan Statik</li><li>Woodlawn/Washington Park neighborhood (Bessie Coleman Branch Library) in collaboration with Dorian Sylvain Studio, LLC / Mural Moves; interpreting themes of democracy, civic duty, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion; by Chicago-based artist Kari Blak</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092761/rmxcuk0mf9h8r8xaodn8.jpg" blak="" mural_beyond="" the="" pages_at="" bessie="" coleman="" branch="" library.jpg=""><figcaption>Kari Blak mural, “Beyond the Pages” at Bessie Coleman Branch Library</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Other DCASE Public Art project highlights scheduled for completion in Summer/Fall 2024 include:<ul><li>CTA Damen Green Line station mosaic by Folayemi Wilson</li><li>Joint Public Safety Training Campus façade mural by Edra Soto and two local artists</li><li>63rd and Central Park Ave. viaduct mural by artist Anna Murphy</li><li>Chicago Race Riot 1919 commemoration project; first markers recently unveiled by Firebird Community Arts with local youth artists</li><li>O’Hare International Airport T5 Baggage Claim photographic light box installation by Jonathan Michael Castillo</li><li>Greater Roseland garden sculptures by Ben LaMar Gay &amp; Redemptive Plastics / Alt Chicago</li><li>Greater Roseland “Burst Into Books” murals by Kayla Mahaffey</li><li>Exterior murals and interior wall wraps in Englewood (Damon Lamar Reed), Lakeview (CZR PRZ), and Roseland (Max Sansing)</li></ul></body></html>

City of Chicago's Latest Public Art Takes a Trip on the El

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092759/vpk1wyzwz1zysyzukcl8.jpg"><figcaption>2023 Richard Hunt Award Winner Caminantes by Salvador Jiménez-Flores</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Via PRTHE 2025&nbsp;CHICAGO SCULPTURE EXHIBIT RICHARD HUNT AWARD APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!What is the Richard Hunt Award? CSE is thrilled to renew the CSE Richard Hunt Award. In recognition of the internationally-heralded artist and Chicago native Richard Hunt, CSE continues to bring new perspectives and diversity to the public art world by offering financial support to emerging or mid-career Chicagoland sculptors for a new artwork sited at a prominent location in the city. The award is part of CSE’s mission to encourage a broader range of artists to design and fabricate large-scale public sculpture.&nbsp;&nbsp;The financial provision for the production of the work is $10,000, 80% provided for the planning and/or creation of the artist’s work and 20% dispersed upon installation. The selected artist must transport their sculpture to and from the site, but CSE will assist with on-site installation and costs of physically mounting the work. The sculpture will remain on display for two years and must be able to withstand Chicago’s climate for that period. The work will be returned to the artist as the sole owner after 24 months. CSE will make every effort to provide additional mentoring and assistance as requested.&nbsp;&nbsp;The award money may be used for production and installation of the sculpture, i.e. materials, studio rent, artist’s time. CSE will also provide professional documentation of the work upon installation, to be shared with the artist.&nbsp;Project TimelineSeptember 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.: Applications are due by 5 pm CST on Friday, September 27. Please submit an application through this form: <a href="https://chicagosculptureexhibit.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=183958c7dd80221c1c4ad9417&amp;id=09b2e305c6&amp;e=5c16fab5df">CSE Richard Hunt Award Application</a>Early to Mid-October 2024: Jury selection of winner, with notification shortly thereafter.&nbsp;November 15, 2024: Final drawings/plans due to CSE for review.&nbsp;May 30, 2025: Installation of the work must be completed by this date and will be planned in coordination with CSE staff and contractors.&nbsp;Application RequirementsChicagoland artists, aged 18+ must submit the following within the application link:● Artist statement and bio (200 words or less)● Sample images&nbsp;● Artist proposal for new work for installation (350 words)&nbsp;● Proposed project budget (may include studio rent, labor, materials, etc.)&nbsp;The JurySelect curators from Chicago’s art community will comprise the Jury for the 2024/2025 CSE Richard Hunt Award including Daniel Schulman, Executive Director of Jewish Museum Milwaukee and former Program Director of Visual Art at Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Anita Blanchard, Board Member, Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation, and Tricia van Eck, Founder and Artistic Director of 6018 North and former Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Richard Hunt Legacy FoundationCSE is excited to partner with The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation to continue the CSE Richard Hunt Award in future years. As an artist and prominent American sculptor, Richard Hunt considered artistic freedom to be the most important aspect of his career, “I am interested more than anything else in being a free person. To me, that means that I can make what I want to make, regardless of what anyone else thinks I should make.”&nbsp;The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation advances public awareness, education, and appreciation of the life and art of American sculptor Richard Hunt. ​The Foundation was incorporated in the state of Illinois in 2023 to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the direction of its founder, Richard Hunt. The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation’s vision is to ensure that future generations fully appreciate his life and art by encouraging, inspiring, facilitating, educating, and supporting the public’s understanding of his work and his place in American and art history. In addition, the foundation aims to support the next generation of sculptors and artists. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092760/wljndqbad5j7tyrkwuvw.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;About Richard HuntBorn on the South Side of Chicago, Richard Hunt (1935-2023) was one of the most important sculptors this nation has produced. His distinguished art career spanned seven decades. At the age of 35, Hunt became the first African American sculptor to have a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1971. Hunt held over 160 solo exhibitions and is represented in more than 100 public museums across the globe. Hunt was a prolific public sculptor and made the largest contribution to public art in the United States, with more than 160 public sculpture commissions gracing prominent locations in 24 states and Washington, D.C. Hunt was a central figure in Civil Rights-era action and commemorated many African American icons in his public works, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Emmett Till, John Jones, and Mary McLeod Bethune. His body of work explores themes of the African diaspora, African and Western art, mythology, and Hunt’s own ancestry, especially in relation to growth, expansion, freedom, movement, and flight. Questions? Contact <a href="mailto:chicagosculptureexhibit@gmail.com?subject=CSE%20Application">chicagosculptureexhibit@gmail.com</a><a href="https://chicagosculptureexhibit.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=183958c7dd80221c1c4ad9417&amp;id=3599f6d153&amp;e=5c16fab5df">CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE</a>&nbsp;</body></html>

CSE Announces Richard Hunt Sculpture Prize - Applications Open Now

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092759/chxv7b6zafnyhui9fxxn.jpg" blue="" rendering="" 1.jpg=""></figure>ROSEMONT, Ill. – THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion, the multifaceted contemporary art program located within Fashion Outlets of Chicago, with support from the Village of Rosemont, today announced the program’s newest site-specific installation, Midnight Blue, by celebrated Chicago-native artist Hebru Brantley featuring his iconic Flyboy character. The permanent work will make its debut at the center on Friday, September 20.“When we established THE COLLECTION, we set out to provide Fashion Outlets of Chicago shoppers with an unparalleled, yet approachable visual art experience,” said Katie Walsh, Senior Marketing Manager at Fashion Outlets of Chicago. “With the addition of this incredible work by an artist as iconic as Hebru Brantley, we are demonstrating our commitment to providing world-class, museum-quality work to the public in an unexpected, unique setting.”Enigmatic and abstract, Midnight Blue draws inspiration from the world of Jazz, particularly the atmosphere created in the classic tune, “Round Midnight.” The focus of the work is on capturing a feeling – a state of being lost in the moment, carried away by the interplay of colors and shapes. These colors themselves become a dreamscape, inviting the viewer to surrender to their own interpretation. Using shapes that hint at camouflage, the work introduces a layer of tension, reflecting the artist’s desire to create a work that resonates on an emotional level, similar to the power of music, all while existing in a dynamic relationship with its environment.“Ultimately, Midnight Blue is about setting a mood, a vibe, just as a great Jazz piece can transport the listener,” said Brantley. “This commission by Fashion Outlets of Chicago was an incredible opportunity to create a work that is simultaneously unexpected and immersive. I’m thrilled to join my colleagues and friends represented in THE COLLECTION and I can’t wait for visitors to engage with Midnight Blue for years to come.”Known for his distinctive, narrative-driven work that revolves around conceptualized characters, Brantley utilizes the characters to address complex ideas while exploring color palettes, motifs and the characters themselves to create an air of innocence around his layered and multifaceted works.&nbsp;For more information on THE COLLECTION and Fashion Outlets of Chicago please visit <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.oTjORMppDqxAbsefRFk27x507Y8RCkhvCWKPYeD-2BKa3G-2BA6KxNcJ2EU-2BuP7Y0J-2F7rLhHuXz3erU-2F9IUUVs-2BVhKbxdGH7RQHVDKroiqTsa2z4JCOBg4F3e-2FrAy9fqi9BpVnIJ64gBS7ycggSCvmj18FAxvJLS80oyoVtjUvYKr9M-3D39qU_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK4Z4qBlUqor2qDvQhyzjzAElC-2F6u9R3CLO8CTOlg-2FO7vCOi8ETaEM9YyAKnU1e2Rp1jIqyDL-2BxrdjsLk8n0b7oXBDtSg69SM-2BCJt4RiNByRQ7ETnBfrxCKUW-2FggBJylTWxLuxAo5cDDZSOUQADaecL8gCcHKkAsdd-2FuPoZO-2BKUkYTVvEsi-2Bmw0dmAvc8bw0aR9pdx247p9i00lon-2FO0OZuegBb6u1k3k3-2FWnkQPqPF2WrEhbF1jD9uZDS-2FCMgVdSJySv-2BTjkZOjmwxdfCu8p2PBfo8nZxRs3QqwHo3C02XxDgZXnRDqeZvqlrCbq-2BlgflFl8bEC89WanKBb-2B8IVwkCIgSmk-2Futtj3XEQ9GH3JuKj1n20q10g3x-2Fei46XEjTPiCqPHJZiBqd0KFMExvszCvph7CVK7-2F8lgDaDxVt2P-2FvgWGZbI9Zt8tFhY5jYzh83uov-2B1K42C6dBZQG6JEMRKOprq6em813YBlzn750KA8BvHUfRjunRPaGrRJtzq-2BoQP7Ain9BUZWaGJfoBS3ZAOvY-2FNupa7MEl6-2BUGJ2wju0kB4Gl-2FMcABtaUBgii5QYspVe50rn2CTxTvK1yE8squAz1-2BFfykOWJ2GwzCt7YKJ8nG7RRadcAb958zHQIqfvu0lGpinRFFCFRWrPf8xteC0vuL-2BkXwOq5GDItN9LopnwbMyxQ8kMwImPUKSFQ2fUUsRddbaoxqASo0cQB4otIPuHj5wCjWy-2FEQqG2Qx-2Fs8GX9s4PX8bxJixrwkXm4LFpJcOYq2BEd41vLZqeD-2B6Aylhgw">www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com/thecollection</a>.About Hebru BrantleyHebru Brantley is an American artist known for his distinctive, narrative-driven work that revolves around his conceptualized characters. Drawing from art historical references such as Robert Colescott, Andy Warhol, Kerry James Marshall and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the work of Brantley reassesses contemporary culture and mythology through a unique lens. He utilizes his characters in a narrative output to address complex ideas around nostalgia, fear, safety, power, and hope. The color palettes, motifs and characters themselves juxtapose this intricacy, creating an air of innocence and accessibility around his layered and multifaceted ideas.&nbsp;Brantley’s work is often seen challenging the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. The contexts and expressions of his youthful cast of characters – which are sometimes in autobiographical form – summon the audience to reimagine childhood and the American cultural experience in Brantley’s coined context of ‘dark fiction’. His work is frequently depicted exploring this macrocosm, where dark represents an identity, continent, and mindset. In his Negro Mythos series, Brantley reimagines the super heroes of American pop culture as people of color – as a quest to readdress modern mythology through his lens. Flyboy, his most known character, was also born from this concept.&nbsp;Akin to Charles Schulz and his world of ‘Peanuts’, Brantley’s work portraying Flyboy forms a narrative around him and his universe, including characters Lil Mama and Phibby. Flyboy, often seen looking upward in heroic stances, summons the viewer to contemplate the notion of the transcendent or even the impossible despite the ordinary. Encouraging the viewer to align their gaze skyward, above the monotony of the mundane, Brantley’s character gives rise to the notion of possibilities. The viewer is challenged to hope, to audaciously believe they too can fly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092760/hz4gveibf1hc1gw1eddl.jpg"></figure>Brantley’s work as a storyteller frequently extends beyond the colorful dimensions of the canvas. The character, Phibby, with a helmet enveloping his dark face, is Brantley’s further exploration into the identity of the ‘safe black man’. Referencing astronauts and space exploration as well as Kermit the Frog, the observer is able to view his childlike appearance with ease while surveying a deeper context. Phibby is seen experiencing a need to assimilate, as black folks are often accustomed to making others feel safe, even when there is no threat. His bright green helmet allows him to do this, masking himself from society by creating a more approachable external image. Phibby challenges the viewer to examine the necessity to sell oneself short in order to fit into the nature of the colonizer. Brantley addresses notions of how people of color were rarely seen as the hero or the savior, but instead would only gain favor by playing the part of satirical characters. Phibby is the personification of the safe zone for a black man, with his helmet serving as both a retreat as well as a shield.&nbsp;Brantley’s recent solo exhibitions include: traveling without moving (NANZUKA UNDERGROUND, Tokyo, 2023), Bound (GGA Gallery, Wynwood Walls, Miami, FL, 2022), Dark Fiction: Flowers &amp; Frogs (Richard Beavers Gallery, NYC, 2022), Saints &amp; Shepherds (Fort Wayne Museum of Art, IN, 2021), Mythos Opus 1., 2., 3., (Megumi Ogita Gallery and Nanzuka Underground, Tokyo, 2021), and Solus (Phillips Auction House, Hong Kong, 2021). In 2019, Brantley exhibited Nevermore Park in Chicago, an experiential fine art installation depicting large-scale narrative work of his characters, Flyboy and Lil Mama. The 6,000-square-foot installation hosted over 23,000 guests. Brantley currently works and resides in Los Angeles,&nbsp;where he is also expanding into film and TV directing through his media company, Angry Hero. In early 2022, he released a short film on Netflix.&nbsp;About THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets FashionTHE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion is a multifaceted contemporary art program located within Macerich’s Fashion Outlets of Chicago, with support from the Village of Rosemont. Components of THE COLLECTION include 23 permanent commissions and a rotating exhibition series located throughout the common area of the shopping center. The public art program has invested in works by Daniel Arsham, Derrick Adams, Carlos Rolón Dzine, Jen Stark, Matthew Hoffman, and many more. THE COLLECTION’s rotating exhibitions feature work by a variety of artists displayed in glass cases located throughout Level Two of the shopping center. For more information, visit <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.YGtAXXM2e8X4wIriVfujJsly62AeUO0rs3h4Ai9ane7MV-2F-2Fv0OqciSl8n1ZhXsCiFhtOG7Bw4CkeC-2BijCretu6x2srvvAgSYa3MK-2Brv5yriylWJuqxLIUXfrq-2FFq3wIqE0ahZuMKcgtQSC6JcpfwPcW-2BJSfX3ocFRlwnjoHCS4A-3DDGSp_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK4Z4qBlUqor2qDvQhyzjzAElC-2F6u9R3CLO8CTOlg-2FO7vCOi8ETaEM9YyAKnU1e2Rp1jIqyDL-2BxrdjsLk8n0b7oXBDtSg69SM-2BCJt4RiNByRQ7ETnBfrxCKUW-2FggBJylTWxLuxAo5cDDZSOUQADaecL8gCcHKkAsdd-2FuPoZO-2BKUkYTVvEsi-2Bmw0dmAvc8bw0aR9pdx247p9i00lon-2FO0OZuegBb6u1k3k3-2FWnkQPqPF2WrEhbF1jD9uZDS-2FCMgVdSJySv-2BTjkZOjmwxdfCu8p2PBfo8nZxRs3QqwHo3C02XxDgZXnRDqeZvqlrCbq-2BlgflFl8bEC89WanKBb-2B8IVwkCIgSmk-2Futtj3XEQ9GH3JuKj1n20q10g3x-2Fei46XEjTPiCqPHJZiBqd0KFMExvszCvph7CVK7-2F8lgDaDxVt2P-2FvgWGZbI9Zt8tFhY5jYzh83uov-2B1K42C6dBZQG6JEMRKOprq6em813YBlzn750KA8BvHUfRjunRPaGrRJtzq-2BoQP7Ain9BUZWaGJfoBS3ZAOvY-2FNupa7MEl6-2BUGJ2wju0kB4Gl-2FMcABtaUBgii5QYspVdqgUSo2UejSbecOS62OhOeBhbRHbuCSjtoA9DEJGksv4vr-2FsPqrdndp-2BwvUUBfzWl3C2CxU0-2Fy0tyByPFFAfj5-2Ffa4uyFyu1Hf92QmGIlOPt7EKth72yEUyOneUca76pS5mHmBGJRtNY-2F-2B88WZ5VQ-2BWhS8xDPjRVfP3mkrJnrW4kDtn-2FxnMJRXuW9Umc4YmnE-2B99U-2FabR0XeY7fPfUztjZ">www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com/TheCollection</a>.About Fashion Outlets of ChicagoFashion Outlets of Chicago is an award-winning 530,000 square-foot, two-level indoor shopping center that is home to more than 130 designer outlets, an impressive contemporary art collection known as THE COLLECTION and high-end amenities. The one-of-a-kind upscale outlet property that redefines and elevates the outlet shopping experience, is located at 5220 Fashion Outlets Way in Rosemont –minutes from O’Hare International Airport and Chicagoland’s major highways. For more information, visit <a href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.oTjORMppDqxAbsefRFk27x507Y8RCkhvCWKPYeD-2BKa03NDbKFoNLXfKRP9ZHayOsMB9eq7mX-2B-2F-2BQZaIOtWW5DzaJ-2FTPueE-2Ff4OadtwlnNTa4oUxYwAkNbNvUjZIDXvNJmKs-2FXribRIQBPT-2BuiBYBYA-3D-3Dc-X6_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK4Z4qBlUqor2qDvQhyzjzAElC-2F6u9R3CLO8CTOlg-2FO7vCOi8ETaEM9YyAKnU1e2Rp1jIqyDL-2BxrdjsLk8n0b7oXBDtSg69SM-2BCJt4RiNByRQ7ETnBfrxCKUW-2FggBJylTWxLuxAo5cDDZSOUQADaecL8gCcHKkAsdd-2FuPoZO-2BKUkYTVvEsi-2Bmw0dmAvc8bw0aR9pdx247p9i00lon-2FO0OZuegBb6u1k3k3-2FWnkQPqPF2WrEhbF1jD9uZDS-2FCMgVdSJySv-2BTjkZOjmwxdfCu8p2PBfo8nZxRs3QqwHo3C02XxDgZXnRDqeZvqlrCbq-2BlgflFl8bEC89WanKBb-2B8IVwkCIgSmk-2Futtj3XEQ9GH3JuKj1n20q10g3x-2Fei46XEjTPiCqPHJZiBqd0KFMExvszCvph7CVK7-2F8lgDaDxVt2P-2FvgWGZbI9Zt8tFhY5jYzh83uov-2B1K42C6dBZQG6JEMRKOprq6em813YBlzn750KA8BvHUfRjunRPaGrRJtzq-2BoQP7Ain9BUZWaGJfoBS3ZAOvY-2FNupa7MEl6-2BUGJ2wju0kB4Gl-2FMcABtaUBgii5QYspVewHJIqN99xMsEtFK3sFICRFZRy3JqBjxoB1NyMcWKW-2B40qFqa68YvLhdcBx78SYuz44hGUedtRuhAjGYuSWtvvgjzyYnYOJd56xP88EfLouWLIiJ7iATBUGf5gCdV4UYGZ-2BD1-2BrkrAP4MVZwIsmft5UdNySZuDfU87JfpEnHOEc2G8ad2oQTMpKr2CF43PJkDsAz6htnltYYH-2Bj0dB8v-2Bi">www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com</a>.&nbsp; # # #</body></html>

Hebru Brantley Flyboy To be Installed at Fashion Outlets 

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092759/y7hparupfwyzxly6ix8y.jpg"><figcaption>Travis Landry, Head of Landry Pop Auctions (LPA) (Photo: Business Wire)</figcaption></figure>Via PRCHICAGO – <a href="https://www.wright20.com">Rago Wright</a> is set to revolutionize the collectibles market with the launch of Landry Pop Auctions (LPA), led by renowned expert and TV star Travis Landry. This new venture will be the sixth stand-alone auction house under the Rago Wright umbrella, signaling the firm’s continued growth and diversification. With Travis Landry at the helm, LPA will introduce an exciting range of offerings in comics, toys, video games, and trading cards, as the collectible market continues to accrue significant value and attract new buyers.Travis Landry, known for his roles on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow (2017 – present) and the Travel Channel’s Toy Hunter (2012-2014), brings his encyclopedic knowledge and passion for collectibles to LPA. His expertise in a range of culturally significant collectibles will expand Rago Wright’s offerings into new categories, providing services previously unmet within their network.“Joining forces with Travis to form Landry Pop Auctions will revolutionize the collectibles market,” said Richard Wright, CEO of Rago Wright. “Travis’s extensive knowledge and passion for collectibles, especially in comics, toys, video games, and trading cards, aligns perfectly with our vision for growth and diversification. His unmatched expertise will elevate our offerings and provide our clients with unparalleled auction experiences. We look forward to this new chapter and the incredible opportunities it will bring.”Travis began his auction career at just 12 years old and since then, has handled numerous high-profile items, including a 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless Booster Box that brought $100,000 at market, a Marvel Comics Fantastic Four #1 (11/61) CGC 8.0 which sold for $150,000 and a Marvel Comics Werewolf by Night #1 (9/72) CGC 9.8 which sold for $51,250. The latter two above-mentioned comics were from the collection of Kevin Willis, CFO of Ashland Inc., which was sold at auction on New Year’s Day of 2022 and was part of the 20-lot auction selling for a total of $900,000. Notably, Landry also handled the collection of Andy Yanchus, the project manager for Aurora (1965-1975) and colorist for Marvel Comics (1975-1992). His extensive experience and enthusiasm for discovering rare finds will be pivotal in driving LPA’s successes.“Landry Pop Auctions will bring a fresh and dynamic approach to the auction industry,” said Travis Landry. “With my deep passion for and expertise in comics, toys, video games, and trading cards, and Rago Wright’s innovative stye and superior expertise, we will move the industry forward in new and exciting ways. I look forward to discovering and showcasing rare and extraordinary items, creating unparalleled auction experiences for collectors and enthusiasts alike.”Over the past five years, Rago Wright has demonstrated significant growth through strategic acquisitions and market expansion. From the merger of Rago and Wright in 2019 to the recent acquisition of Poster Auctions International, the firm has continually broadened its scope. The addition of LPA further diversifies its portfolio, catering to modern collectors and enthusiasts.Landry Pop Auctions will be launching its first auction in October. Interested in selling your collectibles? Connect with Travis at <a href="mailto:travis@landrypop.com">travis@landrypop.com</a>.About Rago Wright&nbsp; Rago Wright is a network of independently owned art and design brands in the auction industry. Rago and Wright joined forces in 2019, followed by the addition of LA Modern Auctions (LAMA) in the fall of 2021, and in 2022 Toomey &amp; Co. joined the firm. Together, the company brings $100+ million in annual sales, has a team of 100, and more than a century of combined business experience. With a national coast-to-coast presence, shared clientele, technology, innovation, and creativity, alongside expertise and shared passion, Rago Wright is uniquely positioned to serve a global audience while maintaining a strong independent voice in the world of art and design.About Landry Pop Auctions&nbsp; Landry Pop Auctions (LPA) is a vibrant new auction brand tailored for modern collectors passionate about comics, toys, pop culture, and more. Led by Travis Landry, LPA combines deep expertise with a passion for exceptional collectibles, hosting exciting sales in Lambertville, Chicago, and Los Angeles.</body></html>

Rago Wright Partners to Launch Landry Pop Auctions

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419415/sxi65dqlds9mdzd3y4mt.png"></figure>Art Encounter Announces New Membership Year and ProgrammingArt Encounter's membership calendar runs from July 1–June 30, which means a new year of membership has just begun! Read on to learn all about membership benefits, highlights from the last twelve months, and a preview of what's to come in the new year.&nbsp;Art Encounter members enjoy a whole host of benefits, including access to members-only programs like Expanding Visions or Art Travel; free programs like our annual Members Appreciation Party and online Lunchtime Art Chats; and discounts on programs like Night Visions, Summer Visions, and our monthly Artist Critique Group.Visit AE's <a href="https://uphksziab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Iy9dFytwZIoT61wIqwQgnC0nNZY8MtLHIcY8HA0OGjQwOlYcdWm7GzOKRekFMWCjkMoko_MVjgVUEv6tdoSFrY7Spa1wTZmCztNgM530aRPqosH82UZPucCpRGA-aFVUtPS4wrk3yCgCCYUkjGqOCuRfc-_ajsKUY6XrFCarEyg=&amp;c=PAjonFUWn84pIFFC1TV2sk4qdNxu9Awwdm_bioOeKJPdwfdecf6dAQ==&amp;ch=iU4QVYOhcaZLiJxTa0scpnb_ChJRw6WUA2D2S2WKaxOhSoa5Q8G8pw==">membership page</a> to get started!&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419416/cicq20mn5vug4w9quoq2.jpg"><figcaption>John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) George Frederick McCorquodale, 1902, Oil on canvas, 58 ¼ x 38 in.Gift of Joe Szymanski in honor of his life-long friend, Andy Musser 2023.020</figcaption></figure>Raclin Murphy Museum Announces New Collection AcquisitionsThe Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is pleased to announce important recent acquisitions to the Museum’s collection. These works add to the Museum’s ever-growing, nationally-distinguished collection-adding both important historical and contemporary voices to the collection. All gifts are cornerstone to the Museum’s sesquicentennial campaign, highlighting the origins of the collection in 1875.An important three-quarter portrait by the iconic American ex-patriot painter John Singer&nbsp;Sargent&nbsp;adds to the strength of the Museum’s collection of nineteenth-century paintings.&nbsp;Portrait of&nbsp;George Frederick McCorquodale&nbsp;(1902) provides a potent counterpoint to the academic practice exemplified by such artists as Jean-Léon Gérôme and Léon Bonnat, currently on view at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Commissioned by the sitter’s daughter for her 21st birthday, it shows George Frederick McCorquodale, the director of a printing company in Scotland.&nbsp;*&nbsp;Another addition to the Museum’s esteemed photography collection is this important monumental photo by the celebrated photographer Andreas Gursky.&nbsp;This is the first Gursky photograph added to the Museum’s collection. Gursky is a German photographer who lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany. Typical of his style, Gursky often photographs a detailed and multifaceted landscape or interior from a high vantage point. His printing process meticulously maintains or enhances all the minute details and colors. The resulting large photographic print illustrates the complexity and interconnectedness of the world we live in and often overlook. The work also compliments the strength of French art in the Museum’s collection.More info on the recent acquisitions is <a href="https://raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/crappy-cake-art/">Chicago artist wants people to feast their eyes on her Crappy Cake Art</a>A Chicago artist is having people hunt for her latest works of fake cakes across the city.&nbsp;Crappy Cake Art has been spotted everywhere, from the CTA to the lakefront, and people are scouring the city for them as if they were edible."A lot of people think I came at it, like with the passion as a baker and then evolved. That is not how it happened," artist Anna Lasbury said.&nbsp;She said she's never made a real cake but can make a fake one. Lansbury has made over 150 cakes on canvas."They were piling up in my apartment because I was obsessed with it," she said.While they've recently grown in popularity, Lansbury says her first fake cake wasn't that good."I was like, this sucks. It's very crappy, but it has a lot of potential. So, I started making a couple more, and they got a little less crappy over time," she said.&nbsp;Via CBS News Chicago&nbsp;</body></html>

CGN Art World Recap: 7/18/24

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419415/erftys7c1pptlnserkru.jpg"><figcaption>Katsushika Hokusai: “The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Kanazawa oki nami ura),” from the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” (Fugaku sanjürokkei); Polychrome woodblock print (Nishikie), circa 1830-1832. Photo courtesy Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoa.</figcaption></figure>VIA PRCCMA's next major summer art exhibition coming in 2025 is “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection.” The exhibition will feature over 50 original works by renowned artists from the Japanese Edo Period, along with a historical exhibit, children's area, and other educational and interactive&nbsp;installations throughout the MAC. The exhibition is organized by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art in collaboration with The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoa, and with the support of MondoMostre. The “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World” exhibition showcases over 50 original artworks by masters of Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1868). Works by acclaimed artists Hokusai and Hiroshige provide a window into life during a time when the City of Edo (present-day Tokyo) thrived as the center of Japan’s economy and culture.“Art at this time was very intimate and focused on themes of performing arts, courtly life, nature, and the vibrant urban culture of Edo,” said CCMA Curator Justin Witte. “Now 200 years later, the striking and graphic style of these images still feels fresh and innovative, inspiring contemporary artists and illustrators.”In addition to the artwork, the exhibition will include: a historical area and timeline with multi-media elements; an outdoor Japanese garden; a children’s Edo art &amp; anime area with coloring pages and activities; an interactive Edo Experience with Shogun and Kabuki garments and more.“As with past major exhibitions, including ‘Frida Kahlo: Timeless’ and ‘WARHOL,’ the creative teams and designers of McAninch Arts Center will create interactive exhibition experiences that help visitors connect with this enchanting era of Shoguns, Samurai and Geisha, that are rich educational experiences and special events that enhance understanding and appreciation of the Japanese Edo era,” said MAC Director and Executive Director Diana Martinez.The exhibition is organized by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, with works from&nbsp;The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoathat was originally collected by Edoardo Chiossone (1833-1898) and whose collection is known worldwide for the quality of art and its remarkable state of conservation. The featured Ukiyo-e collection on loan will be curated by Professor and art historian Rossella Menegazzo of The University of Milan as part of the larger exhibition at the MAC and CCMA, curated by Justin Witte. Tickets for “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World” will be available soon. More information about this exhibition will be announced at a later date.<a href="https://engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m=66955ccb65c62e053ab21fe9&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theccma.org%2Fhokusai%3Fss_source%3Dsscampaigns%26ss_campaign_id%3D6674776baa162b4445c05697%26ss_email_id%3D66955ccb65c62e053ab21fe9%26ss_campaign_name%3DHokusai%2B%2526%2BUkiyo-e%2Bat%2BCleve%2BCarney%2BMuseum%2Bof%2BArt%26ss_campaign_sent_date%3D2024-07-15T17%253A31%253A31Z&amp;w=610a97870a7b92681378bfb2&amp;c=b_6674776baa162b4445c05697&amp;l=en-US&amp;s=OJUvjGXR5CWdbLpyeLPKFg-67eo%3D">&nbsp;More Info&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419416/wcebw5f9zb32owicnj3o.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;</body></html>

Cleve Carney Museum of Art Announces “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World” Coming Summer 2025 

<html><head></head><body><figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419408/dpb9vylvevzg5cpovlhr.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;By CGN STAFFArtist Tony Fitzpatrick shared yesterday that this Friday Night, July 12, 2024 will be the final gallery opening at the Dime, an artist-focused exhibition space located at 1513 N. Western AvenueFitzpatrick emailed friends his message, saying The Dime has "a marvelous couple of Shows...Photographs by Daphne Walsh and paintings by Liz Laughlin...After 10 years it's time to go. The short reason is: I've gone out of business. I'll not blame anyone or anything other than the sad fact that I am a for-shit Businessman. I resisted taking any percentage of Sales because I believe that Artist's have enough economic disadvantages without imposing another one. I wish to thank my Landlord and friend Perry Casalino for the remarkably generous rent deal which allowed us to operate for 10 years -- Those of you who came through and added joy, laughter, and Goodwill to this place . The amazing Artists who taught me so much over this last decade. It was a joy...Goodbye, Fare thee Well, and Amen...Tony&nbsp;Details on The Dime's Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_dime_tf_projects/">account</a></body></html>

Tony Fitzpatrick Announces Final Show for The Dime

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

Augmented Reality + Art Come to Millennium Park 

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

What We're Reading: 7/1/24

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

Artist Joe Seigenthaler: 1959–2024

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

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

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

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

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

The Bean is Open Again 

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

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

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

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

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

CGN Art World Recap: 6/18/24

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

Chicago Artists Coalition Announces Its 2024-26 CAC Residents

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

Audrey Niffenegger Announces New Location and Plans for Artists Book House

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

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

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

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

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

Jason Pickleman (1965–2024)

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

RNDD Fall Gallery Walk Planned for September 6, 2024

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

Trailblazing Art Dealer Ann Nathan Has Died at 98

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