City Guide: Art in the Windy City
As a longtime resident of the Chicagoland area, I always look forward to the excitement that EXPO Chicago brings to the city. It is a great opportunity for visitors to be reminded of the city’s charms, and for residents to reflect on their good fortune in living here. The fair itself can occupy at least a whole day in one’s itinerary, especially if you are willing to partake in talks and other programming (I will be moderating a conversation between artists Hebru Brantley and Derrick Adams on the evening of April 24th, if you are still upright then!) but there are numerous other attractions to take in as well. I wanted to offer a few recommendations here for those traveling to Chicago next week.
One of my favorite EXPO week pastimes is to attend Barely Fair. It is a miniature art fair where great galleries from around the world send appropriately diminutive objects to fill out the less-than-shoebox-sized booths. The caliber of artists and objects is extremely high and the organizers (artists and gallerists themselves) add on talks and other programs that are always interesting.
Betye Saar, Saar Hand Banner, 1968. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Paul Salveson.
While there is plenty for art lovers to see and do in the central part of the city, there are considerable resources on the South Side that are worth the 15 minute or so drive down Lake Shore Drive. The venerable Hyde Park Art Center, birthplace of the Hairy Who, always has intriguing exhibitions and exudes a community-centric vibe. On the campus of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art regularly surprises with gems stashed in their collection as well as exhibitions organized in collaboration with their top flight art history faculty. Steps away is the Renaissance Society, renowned for introducing artists who often go on to be stalwarts of the contemporary art scene. Perhaps less known but equally deserving of a visit is the Neubauer Collegium, curated by former MCA Chicago and Documenta curator Dieter Roelstraete, which is currently featuring a Betye Saar exhibition. On the same block as the Neubauer is the Seminary Co-op Bookstore, which is one of the best anywhere, and next door to it is a cute café called Plein Air, which is always packed with students and faculty.
Huguette Caland, Eux, ca. 1975. Oil on linen. Courtesy Huguette Caland Estate
Back in the central part of town, the museum show I am most interested in seeing is devoted to the 1970s works of Lebanese artist Huguette Caland at The Arts Club of Chicago. It hasn’t even opened yet so I can’t vouch for it, except to say that Caland is a major artist whose work is just now gaining wider exposure and so I won’t be missing it. And if you have never been to The Arts Club, it is an oasis of elegance within the bustling medical district of Streeterville that locals revere for its lectures, performances, and multi-course lunches.
The gallery scene in Chicago is particularly strong at the moment, with established venues such as Corbett vs Dempsey, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Patron, Gray, Monique Meloche, and Mariane Ibrahim Gallery likely known to most art lovers already. A few newer ones to seek out include Anthony Gallery, which will open a group show curated by Lauren Halsey during EXPO where you are certain to discover new talent. Ackerman Clarke is another to watch. It will feature its second exhibition with moody painter Vincent Haynes. A bit further west is M. LeBlanc, which will spotlight beloved Chicago-based artist and educator Arnold Kemp. For those with the stamina to keep going into the evening, M. LeBlanc artist Cameron Spratley has curated an exhibition at the Rainbo Club, an artist-friendly dive bar in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, which opens on Friday, April 25th. With luck, I’ll be there and hope to see you too!
Welcome to Chicago!
