Most of us don’t pay close attention to the visual details of everyday objects that we use in our home. Items such as scissors, spools of thread or clothes hangers serve a specific function, so we often don’t see them…
The current exhibition at the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) displays the artwork of Dr. Charles Smith (born 1940) who is a sculptor, a US Marine Corps Veteran of Vietnam, and also the founder of the African Heritage Museum and Black…
One of the most underappreciated features in Chicago is the extensive network of alleys. According to statistics from the City of Chicago, there are approximately 1,900 miles of alleys (about the distance between Chicago and Los Angeles), providing access to…
Over the past 20 years, with advances made in digital and phone cameras, many of us feel the best way to capture a scene is by taking a color photo. Most of us are led to believe that color photography…
It’s natural for most critics as well as the general public to categorize various forms of art. Giving labels to artistic expression can be helpful when it gives context to the work in terms of how it’s presented and analyzed,…
A great way to spend a couple of hours this fall season is visiting the DePaul Art Museum where two new exhibitions are on display. On the main floor is A Natural Turn that features the works of María Berrío,…
The latest exhibition at the Swedish American Museum, Great Feelings and Meetings, pays tribute to American blues music by showcasing the work of photographer Hans Ekestang who has been documenting blues musicians for the last 50 years. His passion for…
For many of us, there is a lure to abandoned spaces because they often evoke curiosity about their history while also arousing emotions of nostalgia, fear and sadness. There is also a mystique to an abandoned space because it seems…
The latest exhibition at the DePaul Art Museum, Remaking the Exceptional: Tea, Torture, and Reparations | Chicago to Guantánamo, explores the legal and moral implications of torture and incarceration. Following the start of the “Global War on Terror” in…
The Cornelia Arts Building recently held their spring open studio event where the public had the opportunity to see work by dozens of artists. The building, located at the corner of Cornelia and Ravenswood, has been providing studio space for…
Looking for gift ideas for art lovers in your life? Or perhaps you want to treat yourself by buying a book that will not only inspire and educate you about a particular artist, but also look great on your coffee…
In the past year, a number of visual artists, writers and musicians have been exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our lives. Artists are not only reflecting how the pandemic has had an effect globally, but also on…
The latest exhibition at the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) is Scene|Unseen, featuring the works of four post 9/11 veteran/artists—Jake Baker, Jenn Hassin, Brian Kennedy and Aaron Webb. This exhibition allows viewers to gain insight into the unseen reality of…
In the latest exhibition, Reality Check, at the Swedish American Museum, Anna U Davis explores the concept of diffusion of responsibility and how it relates directly to social justice issues such as gender inequality, racial discrimination and climate change. On…
A common element that visual art and music share is their power to evoke an emotional response. Artists and musicians create works that not only unlock emotions, but also alter one’s mood, trigger memories, and act as a source of…
When going to an exhibition that presents abstract art, two questions always come to mind: Can contemporary abstract art still create an element of surprise? And is it still a vital form of expression in the world of art? The…
CityFiles Press is a small publishing company based in Chicago that has been producing books filled with stunning photography along with compelling text. Since its inception in 2003, co-publishers Michael Williams and Richard Cahan have created 20 books and many…
While the art scene in Chicago and other major cities closed its doors for most of 2020, numerous art books continued to be published. Here’s a list of 10 must-see art and photography books published this year. These books are…
The Weinberg/Newton Gallery in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) presents an exhibition on voting rights that is particularly relevant in this presidential election year. Anthem can be viewed online and in the gallery’s storefront windows on MIlwaukee…
Troublemakers: Chicago Freedom Struggles through the Lens of Art Shay By Erik S. Gellman University of Chicago Press In Troublemakers: Chicago Freedom Struggles through the Lens of Art Shay, historian Erik S. Gellman narrates Chicago’s history of social activism from…
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