All tagged Art Institute of Chicago
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago held a demonstration, demanding that the Art Institute cut its ties with the Crown Family because the family still holds a significant interest in General Dynamics, a manufacturer of bombs used by the Israeli Defense Forces in the war against Hamas. Here are my thoughts about and images from the spirited demonstration.
Former President Donald Trump came to Chicago today for what was a disastrous Q & A session at the National Association of Black Journalists annual conference. As usual, I was in the streets outside the Hilton, recalling the riots that broke out during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Here are my thoughts about what transpired on the streets, as well as my photographs.
On Monday, March 4, 2023, pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged rallies outside the Chicago offices of the Egyptian and Israeli Consulates General. Here are my thoughts about and images from both rallies.
Tonight I attended a demonstration by Palestinian health care workers outside the Art Institute of Chicago that was meant to call attention to the ongoing medical crisis in Gaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from this passionate, but rather low-key demonstration.
On Friday afternoon, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a rally outside Boeing’s corporate offices, calling out the defense contractor for producing weapons that the demonstrators believe are being used by the Israelis in their crusade against Hamas. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Yesterday, I attended a demonstration outside of the Art Institute of Chicago organized by Behind Enemy Lines. Among the demonstrators were students from School of the Art Institute who demanded that Steven Crown, an Art Institute trustee, be removed from the board of trustees because his family’s investment in General Dynamics finances the production of the bombs being dropped on Gaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Abortion-rights protesters marched through Chicago’s Loop today with a focus on what they characterized as ‘fake” health clinics—ones designed to dissuade those seeking abortion assistance from obtaining an abortion. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Today I attended an abortion-rights march organized by Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
The Art Institute’s famed bronze lions returned today from their month-long deep clearing in Forest Park. I was on hand for the reinstallation outside the Art Institute. Here are my thoughts and the images I captured.
Ed Ruscha discusses his work and career during an event hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago’s Woman’s Board.
[Click on the photograph to enlarge and for additional commentary]
As you walked into the old section of the Art of Institute of Chicago, you pass a grand staircase. On the first landing is a bronze sculpture of a torso created by Roussillon-born sculpturer Aristide Maillol in 1906. It is entitled Enchanted Action. The white light in the staircase always tickles down to the toes, and yet the torso has no toes to tickle.
[Click to enlarge the photograph and for a review and commentary about Gerhard Steidl's lecture]
Gerhard Steidl, the German master publisher of photography and art books, delivered the annual Hugh Edwards Lecture at the Art Institute of Chicago this evening. Toward the end of the lecture, Steidl said he is a technician, not an artist. Most devotees to the books that he publishes would strongly disagree.
[Click on the photograph to enlarge it and for additional commentary]
Architect Renzo Piano's Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago has an expansive hallway that leads from Monroe on the wing's north side to the older sections of the museum on the south. It is a grand space, with white walls and skylights, providing beautiful natural lighting. People always look so elegant in this space, particularly when seated on the benches that line the walkway.
[Click on the photograph to enlarge it and for additional commentary]
The Art Institute of Chicago just opened an exhibit in the photography gallery in the Modern Wing featuring the work of Robert Frank, who many consider to be the father of street photography, although I think The Americans is a far more cohesive a body of work that goes well beyond the often ad hoc nature of what is typically characterized as street photography. Throughout the exhibit, there are a number of references to Frank's desire for a quick, dirty, an ephemeral display of his work.
[Click on the photograph to enlarge it and for additional commentary]
While waiting on the steps outside the Michigan Avenue entrance for Evelyn to finish her scone, I heard a terrific trumpeter who clearly knew his chops. I assumed he was a jazz cat, but when I went to put money in his bucket, he asked me if I would take his photograph. Happy to do it. So we tried a number of poses. Turns out he is a blues player with J.W. Williams & the Chi-Town Hustlers.
[Click on the photograph to enlarge and for additional commentary]
On a sunny winter afternoon, there are some very nice reflections in the windows of the Art Institute of Chicago. This is not a photograph of the statue, but rather, a reflection projected onto filthy winter window glass. Not the most curvaceous butt, but it will do.
