Curator Matthew Arient says that text often takes on a “literal aspect” in the work of self-taught visual artists. They may have a specific religious, personal, or philosophical message to convey, and words are the simplest and surest way to get it across to viewers. Other untrained artists are more interested in the visual uses […]
Category: Art Sidebar
Posted inArts & Culture
A regular guy inspires This Is Paul Halupka
A Sound Foundation by Alberto Aguilar and Mary Lou Zelazny—that focus on different aspects of Halupka’s life, from the places where he played as a child to his logo-designing skills. “I call it relational portraiture,” Cochran says, “because it involves depicting the same person in a layered way.” By concentrating on an average Joe, she […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A group show at the Ann Nathan Gallery
“The times call for group shows,” says Victor Armendariz, assistant director of the Ann Nathan Gallery. “So many artists aren’t getting exposure. “Also, it’s always interesting to see how works play off one another.” The 15 artists featured in Gallery Group, Ann Nathan’s current exhibition, vary widely in their subject matter and choice of media […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Mark Bradford’s mixed-media messages
Some of Mark Bradford’s collage paintings are like the poster-covered plywood fences you see at construction sites, their various colors and layers combining to reveal complex narratives about city life. Others resemble maps, with rows of squares that look like city blocks or skyscraper windows. A 2009 MacArthur fellow, Bradford is perhaps best known for […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Instituto Cervantes hosts 140 drawings by Spanish artists
Pliny the Elder was thinking of Alexander the Great’s official painter, Apelles, when he coined the phrase “No day without a line.” The artist supposedly never let the sun set without making at least one thin stroke. The quote, in Latin, forms the title of a new exhibition at the Instituto Cervantes. Featuring 140 works […]
Posted inArts & Culture
New Driehaus Museum Director Seeks to Boost Collection’s Profile
The old Nickerson residence sits at the corner of Erie and Wabash in River North’s Cathedral District, nearly hidden among the high-rise condos. Built by banker Samuel Nickerson between 1879 and 1883, the three-story stone mansion was once the biggest private home in Chicago. Investment mogul Richard Driehaus bought it in 2003, restored it, and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Art Chicago: To Dream, Design, and Acquire
The opening panel discussion at this year’s Art Chicago is titled “What If: To Dream, Desire and Acquire,” and that pretty much sums up the annual fair that brings together collectors, curators, artists, gallerists, scholars, and kibbitzers for four days of looking, talking, and dealing. Running Friday through Monday, Art Chicago concentrates on modern and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Version 11
Version 11 The 11th go-round of the annual artist-run festival Version begins Friday 4/22, with parties, art shows, and other affiliated events continuing through 5/1. This week’s schedule is listed in brief below, and in greater detail at versionfest.org; events are free unless otherwise noted. The festival opens with The New New Chicagoans, a show […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fall Arts Guide 2010: Art Listings
SOFA Chicago, Salvador Dali, David Maisel, Philippe Durand, and more
Posted inArts & Culture
Hyde Park & Kenwood Issue: Arts & Museums
Museums, fairs, a transitory art project, and more
Posted inArts & Culture
Hyde Park & Kenwood Issue: Education & Classes
A roundup of neighborhood classes, schools, and more
