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The Art Institute of Chicago
Rating Details »
Category: Museums
Neighborhood: The Loop111 S Michigan Ave
(between Monroe St & Adams St)
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
- Nearest Transit:
-
Adams/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Monroe (Blue, Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed. 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu. 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
348 reviews for The Art Institute of Chicago
This museum is one of the reasons why I wanted to relocate to Chicago from AZ. Their permanent collection is astounding, but their special exhibits are the real treat.
If you live in the area, you can visit for free by checking out a pass from the Chicago Public Library, or visiting on Thursday night (although it's only for three hours and you'll certainly need more time to really take it all in). A membership is only $80 a year and that includes admission for two adults and a few other goodies (for a couple, that's only $40 each).
I also should add that they have a decently priced cafe, a notch above standard cafeteria-type food. If you're anything like me and intend to spend the day from opening until the Institute closes its doors, then you should feel happy to know you can have a nice lunch break. They also have outdoor seating.
This is an absolute must for any arts-loving visitor.
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The Art Instute of Chicago is good and since it's FREE Thurs nights from 5-8pm it's totally worth checking out.
It's humongous!! You can't see it all in one day. Get the visitor guide and try to see the "What To See In An Hour". We tried to see them all, but we didn't look for all of them & had limited time & energy.
We saw:
El Greco's Assumption of the Virgin - Gallery 211, 2nd level
Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - 1884. Gallery 240, 2nd Level
Grant Wood's American Gothic - Gallery 263, 2nd Level. I liked it, famous pic.
Gerhand Richter's Woman Descending the Staircase. Gallery 296, 2nd Level
Campana Brother's Corallo Bench - Gallery 283, 2nd Level.
Rene Magritte's Time Transfixed - Gallery 396, 3rd Level
Other stuff:
Claude Monet - huge Impressionist artwork
Georgia O'Keefe - Sky Above Clouds IV - Huge piece
Vincent Van Gogh
Modern Wing:
Cool, interesting, weird stuff.
Just go!
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This is one of my favorite art museums and I had to come back here again.
The first time I came here in 2007, they had a special exhibit called Cézanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde. I was in heaven. I enjoy Cézanne's work along with Picasso, so it was great. On my recent visit, I went straight to the Impressionism and Post-Impresionism gallery where they have Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir, and Seurat. My two favorite paintings were Renoir's Two Sisters and Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Because I was pressed for time, I checked out the American Gothic painting and the Buddha statue. In the museum guide, it gives you a must-see list if you don't have time to browse through all of their galleries. You can spend days here and still not see everything.
They opened a new modern wing recently and one day, I want to check out the photography gallery. I always get the audio guide when I go to art museums so I can learn more about artist's motivation behind their work.
This place is a must-see in Chicago!
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Art Institute is such a great place to go when you just want to take a few hours to get your culture on. I totally enjoyed walking through and enjoying some of the best art in the world. I went on the free Thursday night and although it was a lot of people it was very well organized. They even have a well organized coat check. I had the opportunity to see Caravaggio last week and it was amazing. I definitely cant wait to go back!
The art work is well worth the visit (especially with those free admission days and time slots). The aesthetics of the museum architecture is not as amusing as one would hope, but I will take content over everything else any day.
The Art Institute should be in your top 3 gotta-visit-now.
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As a native Chicagoan recommending things to see in Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago is on the top of the list. If you had only a day to spend in the city, and could only see one thing, I would probably recommend that you spend that day in the Art Institute, unless you have a particular mindset that isn't fond of art.
The Institute is immense. If you arrive right at opening time and stay until they close, you probably still won't quite have time to see everything they have. Even someone who doesn't know much, if anything, about art, will see at least a dozen paintings that they recognize from popular culture, or social studies class. There are thousands of beautiful works, some legendary pieces, and you are bound to come across something you've never seen that absolutely blows your mind.
Also worth noting is that the gift shops and cafe are both quite nice, and also pretty reasonably priced for a museum. They don't jack things up too much, and are probably the most reasonably priced major museum in the city. The cafe is also easily the best food of any of the museum restaurants, although the restaurant at the Shedd Aquarium is nothing to scoff at.
If you're into this place as much as I am, the memberships offer a lot of great stuff too. As a student, I was able to become a member for only $40, giving me free admission (and a free guest entry), 10% off the cafe and gift shop, access to the member lounge where coffee is totally free, first dibs on entry into new exhibits, a subscription to the institute magazine, and a free two-pocketed member tote bag that is my new man-bag of choice. I can't recommend enough a membership at the Institute.
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The free admission on Thursdays from 5-8pm is an absolute steal. If you were to pay the $18 admission, you can't help but feel obligated to stay for an entire day. As tourists with limited time, it's tough to do. Obviously, it's not enough time to check out everything the museum has to offer. But there's an insert within the free guide that lists some of the "must-see" paintings and exhibits.
Unlike most museums, you can take pictures, without flash of course, since it's a good way to remember everything. If you're like me, my short-term memory really... well, stays short-term memory. Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, the list of famous artists is endless. It's great being to able to see a painting that you recognize in the books or on television, and have it hanging in front of your nose. The perfect example -- American Gothic. Heck, there's a huge sculpture of it sitting right on Michigan Ave.
I do have to agree that the layout can be a head-scratcher for the first time visitor. So we found ourselves asking for directions most of the time. The modern art section was definitely odd and abstract, to say the least. There was a dark room filled with televisions, and on screen was images of a crazy clown doing different things, like sitting on the toilet, jumping up and down, screaming, etc. Definitely not for those who had nightmares watching Stephen King's "IT." And NO, I didn't take any pictures.
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If you visit only one museum in Chicago, The Art Institute should definitely be it. Even if you're too cheap to fork out the $18 admission, you can still experience some of the best art around by going for FREE Thursday nights from 5 to 8 pm. And if you have no idea what's inside The Art Institute, go to Netflix and add Ferris Bueller's Day Off to your queue.
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The Institute is truly huge. You can spend days here and not see some things. On my afternoon visit, I wasn't able to see any of the American, Indian, Asian or African art. My trip started in the Renzo Piano designed new wing and it can be appreciated as a work of art on its own.
It is difficult to cruise or quickly browse the art because pretty much all of the pieces are from prolific, influential and famous artists. If you try to walk fast through the Institute, you'll give yourself whiplash from catching random Van Gogh and El Greco's in the corner of your eyes. The art outside in the gardens are excellent as well.
The only exhibits I didn't absolutely love were the traveling exhibits. I really wanted to like the Case for Wine exhibit, but there really wasn't anything compelling to see and justify my walk through. The twenty minutes I spent in this exhibit could have been better allocated.
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I have visited Chicago now on a number of occasions. It's my favorite city east of California. It has many, many fantastic attractions to entertain the vacationer, chief among them its splendid museums. Of them all, I admit that I harbor an irrational love the MoSI above the rest. It is, however, a museum of narrow focus, and some people, even dear friends, loathe it.
The museum I recommend to everyone who visits Chicago is this one. It is one of the greatest American art museums, with a huge, varied collection to appeal to the interests of almost anyone. You can easily spend a full day here on the resident collection, more if there's something on exhibition.
Just in the permanent displays, look at the breadth beyond the paintings and sculpture:
- ancient art: Greek, Roman, Egyptian
- indigenous art of Africa, Asia, and the Americas
- items, armor from medieval and renaissance europe
- textiles from darn near everywhere
- photography
- modern art
- the Thorne miniature rooms (which are among the most amazing
things you'll ever see in a museum).
and then add to all that world-famous paintings like American Gothic and the Nighthawks..
and finally top it off with the chance to mope angstily before Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte. Just remember to wear your Howe jersey.
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Give yourself two days to do this museum and show up EARLY. Do not sleep in, get brunch then go. Closing time will come before you know it.
This place whisks you into an alternate reality where you move from room to room and time seems to stop just for you. It's AMAZING. We saw American Gothic, my favorite scene at Phillie's, Van Gough's self portrait and then had a Ferris Bueller moment checking out Monet.
If you are planning a trip to Chicago and are debating what museums to see- don't miss this!
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It's hard to describe what the Art Institute really means to me. It's the home of great passions and emotions not only in the artists themselves but in the viewers like you and I. The Institute has also given me great memories, like from when I was a child and my father would take me on a Saturday morning, as a teenager going with friends for school or just fun, or even as an adult going on dates. Sometimes I even like to go there by myself with a pair of headphones and an open mind (you just have to watch where you walk, I've bumped into way too many people... then again, that's how I got a couple dates).
I could go on and on describing the ever changing institute but it's almost like a fiction story "Hey, did you get a chance to see the Munch exhibit" or "How cool was the Taoism and Arts of China Exhibition". It's almost unbelievable how they are such a revolving door of culture and history. I think it's funny when people ask what kind of art lover am I... Contemporary, Modern, Impressionism, and so on. As if you could just pick one!! There are pieces that I love from each genre, like how can you not love Picasso's blue period, or the warped mind of Dali, and the detail of Albright. So much to choose from and now even more with the new modern addition. Check it out, it's like a whole new area to play in!
Just want to thank Groupon for making this year an awesome one with a discount membership to the Institute.
I recommend taking a staycation and visiting the Art Institute!!
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Art History at the Art Institute lecture series - amazing!
Art History lectures with Joe Cunniff (thru Art Institute Cont. Ed. division) is one of the best things Chicago has to offer! I can't remember ever being so excited about a class before. Joe is amazing! Knows everything about art, music, Chicago history and architecture, great storyteller and quite a personality! Class is happening right in the museum galleries, and that's what makes it so fun and unique. I would highly recommend this class on Saturday afternoons to anyone, not just fine art buffs. Great thing for couples to do together. The people in my group were great -- fun to talk to, well traveled, friendly, and going there was a highlight of my week. Taking this class is probably the best present I've ever given myself.
Amazing. No matter how many times you've been here, you feel like you haven't seen everything. There's a great range of art mediums and movements, and even if you're not especially familiar with art history, you'll be able to see plenty of famous things you'll recognize. My only complaints would be that occasionally the place gets a bit too busy with tourists, that it closes a lot earlier than I would like and that a few of the visiting exhibits have been lackluster. But overall, it's one of my favorite museums and a must-see if you're a visitor to Chicago.
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Being a self proclaimed "museum snob" considering all the choices we have here in the SF BAY AREA, I will say for a fact that the Art Institutes of Chicago FREE FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR (held between the hours of 5pm-9pm on select Friday nights) is a worth while event to attend. A diverse crowd of different ages and races. Lots of cultured beautiful women walking around, dressed to kill.... lol
Bring your walking shoes because the Museum is HUGE and will have you huffing and puffing as you try to see all the exhibits there's the new Modern Wing of the museum that will also add some additional miles to your pedometer.
BUT... There is one MAJOR problem with this museum...
For some strange reason, ALL of the African exhibits are located in the BASEMENT of the museum...
And when I say "basement" I do mean BASEMENT!!! Actually I would call it the Subbasement since the exhibits are located one floor below the American Classic exhibits that happen to be located in the basement.
Either way, my posse and me were even more shocked to realize that the entire African Exhibit consisted of only 12-15 pieces! And to be blunt: the African section didn't even have the entire floor to itself-as a matter of fact it only had one tiny piece of the subbasement...
Yikes!
So? What else was located (do I dare say the word "banned") to the subbasement of the museum with the Africans? I'm sad to say that our Native American brothers were also banned to the subbasement to be forgotten by the people... :(
A true shame and the only reason I can't give the museum a higher rating than "Three Stars".
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I couldn't help but think about one of my most favorite movies of all time--Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and I found myself taking artsy pictures of my brother walking up to the famous pieces of art here, catching him contemplating at each masterpiece....So thanks John Hughes for the inspiration!!
This art museum is phenomenal, and the only bad thing about it I think is that the map is a little hard to follow. My brother and I got lost more than once trying to make sure we had visiting every crevice and every room in this mansion of art. And for some reason we didn't really find any of the furniture worth our time in this museum either, but I'm sure that floats other people's boats so we just walked by those exhibits and went on to all of the famous pieces.
Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Dali....Being here really made me wish I had taken AP Art History in highschool, but this museum actually does a decent job of having explanations near most of the main paintings which was helpful in our education for the day.
We were here for about 2 and a half hours and by that time we were a little museumed out as most people get, but were so so thankful we went the day we did because the next day was a free admission day and the lines were ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BLOCK and full of all kinds of kids, so I don't think our relaxing tour of the museum would have been as nice....so beware for those free days! you save money but you might lose some sanity! you always have to think about cost benefit heh
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"A painting is what you make of it, besides which, 'Moon, Weeping' has a better ring to it than 'Paintbrush, Dripping." ~Robert Brault
I'd have to agree with good 'ole Robert. I love to look at art. I love to walk from painting to painting and imagine I have some clue of what the artist was trying to do. I sometimes read the captions next to the pictures when I'm completely clueless. I don't remember to understand what era or 'ism it is I just like to look and I like the Art Institute for that.
My main goal was to see the new Modern Wing. A friend and I must have wandered around that wing for well over an hour. I enjoy looking at paintings with her because she is the one that knows the eras and 'isms. The Modern Wing is gorgeous and I finally got to see what everyone was talking about.
I think the Target free Thursdays and Fridays are a wonderful idea but thankfully my friend has a membership because we got to avoid the crowds.
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Amazing. Breathtaking collection of Asian art and artifacts, Japanese Silk Screens, Modern and Contemporary Art. We even had the treat of viewing works such as Nighthawks, American Gothic, The Picture of Dorian Grey by Albright, some classic Whistlers as well as a few superb paintings by Georgia O'Keefe.
The layout is great and the new Modern wing was expansive and elegant. I'll have to grab a drink with my hunny the next time we are there and sit out in the Pritzker Pavilion.
The sad thing was the the Chicago Stock Exchange really doesn't get as much attention as I would have expected it would. Its a huge undertaking to have recreated the exchange and the original stone arch outside is a beautiful piece of history.
Go on the free Thursdays/Fridays between 5-9pm before Labor Day and you won't feel rushed to get your $18 bucks worth.
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WOW!!!!! This was my first time in this museum, and I was really impressed!!!! It is huge! And you can spend the whole day there, so you are getting your money's worth. I've been to art museums where you can be done seeing everything in 1 hour, but that's not the case with the Art Institute of Chicago. One exhibit that took me by surprise, was an exhibit that displayed about 80 dioramas of victorian styled homes. Specifically, it was about how someone's bedroom would look like, or how a living room appeared during the 1800s. So beautiful, and the craftsmanship was so detailed.
Very nice art museum that houses some of the greatest art treasures in the world. The layout of the museum can be very confusing but there are ample help desks that are very friendly to help you towards the direction you would like to go to.
If you are visiting plan on taking at least 6 hours to go through all the rooms. It's a very substanial museum. For a limited time if you go on Thursdays 5-8 it is free if you want to take a short trip there.
It also is one of the few museums that allow you to take photographs as long as you don't use a flash.
A must-do stop for any Chicago visitor or local! The perfect way to spend a day indoors and in the loop. Thought-provoking, entertaining, interesting and at some points weird!
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One of the greatest museums I have ever been to. Very large without being immense and unnavigable. The new modern wing is beautiful and the artwork is great . The children area was awesome and the content of the museum has some of the greatest works in the world.
Last week, I was back home in Chicago for a vacation with Rollence P., and I was really excited about getting to revisit the Art Institute. I was last in my hometown in July 2006, and since I was only in town for a weekend to go to a wedding, I was quite disappointed that I wouldn't be able to visit my favorite place in the city.
Last Monday, July 6th, Rollence and I strolled over from our nearby hotel to have a look around. I was really eager to visit the newly opened Modern Wing, but even more so, to see Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. This painting has been a favorite of mine since I was a young girl, and I grew up with a large framed print of it in my bedroom. I mentioned to Rollence how happy I was to see this painting again.
Walking around a museum all day can make one very tired, but luckily, there's a bench in front of this painting. We sat there to study it, when he mentioned to me that he picked up something from the gift shop for me. I eagerly closed my eyes and held out my hand, and then I felt him put a small box in it.
"Will you marry me?"
The Art Institute can't get any better than that for me.
P.S. For the record, the ring didn't come from the gift shop. =)
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12/17/2007
The two things I miss most about Chicago since I've moved to LA are the following:
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Thank you Target for free Thursday and Friday nights in the summer. The Art Institute has a lot of variety, ranging from fine art to modern/contemporary art.
I was able to see most of the museum within a 2 hour time span. The new modern wing is really nice. I couldn't find the basement section since its confusing to get from one wing to the other (since there is a bridge) but if you happen to go down there, visit the Miniature Rooms section! SO cute and detailed!
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Visiting the Art Institute is something I've been meaning to do for a looong time! And I'm glad I had the opportunity to go with someone that knew a bit about art.
We were short on time so it was a quick stop (about 1.5hrs), but we managed to see quite a bit. My companion made sure I knew the difference between a Monet and a Manet painting :)
Don't forget to bring your old college ID--you can get a discount. Also, I am pretty sure we got a discount for being a Chicago resident. Yay! I am indeed a fan of the Art Institute!
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Had some time to kill here while I waited for Bella to go to class. There was alot of things to look at here. I enjoyed the old paintings and artifacts they had from all over the world.
I did not find the modern and contemporary art really that great. They had some really dumb things in that area such as the room with the clown videos. That room would give a child nightmares and I did see a child right outside that looked traumatized.
If you like art, you'll have plenty of things to look at here.
I love museums but don't like to spend all day in them. Similar to trips to the mall, I've learned that these kinds of trips are best done with surgical precision in choosing an exhibit or store, making a beeline to the target, and getting out before the glassy-eyed fatigue sets in.
The Art Institute of Chicago was both an exception and not. After arriving on Thursday and unwinding a bit at the hotel once the A/C was fixed, I checked out the current and special exhibits on their website. Thanks to sponsorship by Target, admission was free from 5 to 9 PM on Thursdays and Fridays during the summer. Normal adult admission is $18.
My prime interest was in their temporary exhibit, "Modern and Contemporary Works on Paper", which was easily determined to be in Galleries 124-127 from the website. I took an easy amble up South Michigan Avenue and enjoyed seeing the free Summer Dance lesson series (tango was featured then) in Grant Park as I made my way.
The museum was quite the beehive of activity at 530 PM when I arrived but the crowds were nicely managed by the staff - I snagged a site map and some quick directions from the front reception staff and I was on my way down the hall.
The crowds dissipated as I pressed on and the noise abated allowing for the focus on the treasures that I sought. Consisting of about 80 works from their collection, these items were rarely displayed to the public due to their sensitivity to light. It was amazing to be able to be this close to many of the pieces and really look at them to study technique. The Roy Lichtenstein piece, "Alka Seltzer", was fascinating to view up close and note the pencil lines he drew (but did not erase) to outline where he wanted the glass to be as well as to position the dots that made up the iconic background.
While I had not planned on touring the Renzo Piano-designed modern wing which opened just over a month ago, I took a quick walk through it to see the architectural details of the airy space. Its newness has drawn many visitors, both local and tourist, and was quite densely packed.
Other easily recognizable pieces in the museum were Edward Hopper's "Nighthawk", George Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte", and Grant Wood's "American Gothic". While these have permeated the American consciousness, it is really something to see the pieces in person within mere feet of the real thing.
Words are poor vessels to capture the ethereal quality of these items. Just go and see it for yourself. If you get too glassy-eyed, you can toddle back out to the free Summer Dance series outside to get the blood pumping again. http://www.explorechic...
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This place is HUUUUGE. Don't do what I did and just start at the first floor and work my way around. You should pick out what your favorite kind of art is and head there in the beginning of your tour. My favorite kind of art is impressionism and thats at the top... near the end of my own tour... so by the time I had gotten there I was EXHAUSTED. I was so tired, I couldn't really enjoy the art as much as I would have liked.
When I lived in Chicago this was my favorite museum to go to, especially on freebie night, and now as a visitor, I have to say nothing has changed. The new addition is wonderful, they did an unbelievable job of making the flow great and ensuring that more international pieces are available for viewing. The old standbys of Seurat, Monet, and American Gothic are still there, but in new locations, and new crazy American Modern installations (my least favorite being Clown Torture - disturbing).The only bummer for me was that the Chagall windows, which are my favorite , were taken down during the expansion, and they still haven't been put back up. I guess that means that I will have to plan another trip in the future, and that will just kill me :) Next time I will spend a whole day, though, because I ran out of time. It is definitely worth the price.
They have FREE Thursday (and Friday between Memorial and Labor Day) evenings from 5pm - 9pm and I made sure to stop by. (That was $18 each that we saved. Yay!!)
For even the $18, this place still would be worth it. I have never seen so many masterpieces in one place at one time.
My faves were the Renoir "Two Sisters (On the Terrace)" http://www.artic.edu/a..., Seurat's famous painting "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" http://www.artic.edu/a... which was featured in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and some of those older highly detailed paintings where you can see the individual strokes detailing out the lace on someone's clothing.
I also found myself staring at Sue Williams "It's a New Age" http://www.artic.edu/a... for about 10 minutes. Kind of a crude piece but I liked it. She shows the different feelings a woman might go through if an abortion wasn't her personal choice.
Unfortunately, there were a few pieces I missed in our 3 hour race throughout the museum. I'm not even sure they were on display at the time, but it would have been nice to see these.
Mary Cassat - "The Child's Bath" http://www.artic.edu/a...
Grant Wood - "American Gothic" http://www.artic.edu/a...
Edward Hopper - "Nighthawks" http://www.artic.edu/a...
Still, it was a well spent visit. Definitely somewhere I'd visit again.
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The collection of art pieces in this place is very vast. I didn't know that this museum housed the original of Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." I remember learning about pointillism in Art History class in high school. I didn't realize how massively big this painting was in person. From this, I moved to Renaissance art and saw the work of Caravaggio. I loved the big contrast between light and dark. They really covered all their bases in this museum because they even had modern and contemporary art. The most memorable piece I saw was a pile of candy in the corner of one gallery. It was supposed to represent the ideal weight of 175 pounds of the artist's partner who died of AIDS. Visitors are encouraged to take a piece and the supply of candy continually replenished thereby making this person eternal. Very interesting. Kind of weird, but I ate that piece of candy. I then thought about how old that candy had been sitting there. Ugh. Overall, I had a good time here. There is way too much to see in this place and I could spend a whole day walking through all the galleries here.
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We went for free on Friday night, and that was a spectacular deal. I only wish the Philly art museum had days like this, or more pay what you wish days. It's a small price to pay for the crowded conditions that followed.
All in all, I really enjoyed our visit to the Art Institute. The building is gorgeous, modern, and bright, a stunning backdrop to the works of art scattered within. There was a nice selection of things to view, a good variety of periods and artists and countries, and a few truly stunning, standout works. I also liked the little cafe on the second floor, where we were able to gulp down a mediocre but VERY welcome cup of coffee.
The store is likewise pretty awesome, almost a museum in itself, with so many things to look at that I wanted to buy that my head kept turning. Too bad half of them seemed to be over $500!!
My one complaint is that I feel it could have been laid out a little better; some of the exhibits were awkward in that when you got to the end, instead of it just looping into the hall like most of the exhibits at home do, you'd have to retrace your steps back the way you came, pushing your way through the Friday night crowd.
Still, a minor quibble. This was one of my favorite things we did in Chicago!
There are two things that have always stricken me as monumental in this historical monument "deprived" country:
- the libraries
- the museums
Chicago is a perfect illustration - the Harold Washington on State is gigantic, and the Big Three (Science and Industry, Field and Art Institute) are quite impressive too - but constitutes by no means the exception.
For a nation that European (and we silly and arrogant French in particular) label as "uneducated" I would say that you guys don't need any lesson on culture showcasing.
Books and museum artifacts connect for me in many ways and my last visit to the Art Institute and the newborn Modern Wing, only reinforced this deep-rooted impression of mine.
Paintings tell stories. It is such a cliche that people tend to forget to "read" them. The Italian masters illustrated many episodes of the Bible, the Classics in general got their inspiration from mythology, epics and the Big book of History, still lives are graphic descriptions in the way of the naturalist authors, the deformed characters of Picasso exemplify on the canvas the multiple focalisation at work in the literature of their time, and so on.
The supreme gratification of any visit for me is to decipher, to look attentively for all the clues disseminated in the picture and try to recreate the story.
That is the reason why I hate modern art.
No literature there.
I look and don't hear anything. Don't read anything. Don't feel anything.
But then this week it suddenly occurred to me:
Modern art is poetry.
Modern art is a play on words and matter.
Modern art is the individual expression of beauty, engagement, emotions. It is so intensely personal, intimate and subjective that the others cannot have direct access to it.
It is the most exclusive statement.
Seeing is not enough.
You have to read. This time literally.
The words on the side of the piece of art complement and complete it. Enlighten it. Titles work as revelations, keys to an otherwise locked world. They tell you the story, and leave you the freedom to create it in your own way. And try again and again.
The Modern Wing represents the perfect space to perform this exercise.
It is bright and open, spacious, expansive. Plain but beautiful.
Displaying the city in the most wonderful and subtle way.
The Art Institute is not the Metropolitan, the Tate Gallery or the Louvre. That's why I like it It is smaller and intimate but still majestic in its way. You can easily find old friends and discover novelties on each visit. In the heart of the city that became my home it is a safe harbor.
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They say you never forget your first time. It was middle school ... hey, get your mind out of the gutter! This was when my love affair with The Art Institute began on a school field trip.
Not only was it my first real exposure to an art museum, it was the first field trip I attended that required more than a signed permission slip. I will be eternally grateful for Mrs. Sorenson, my art teacher, requiring that each student learn some basic art history (the masters, movements, media, etc.) and pass a quiz in order to attend, but I digress...
When I heard that not only had The Art Institute opened a new Modern Wing, but that that it was free to all opening week I invited my mom to come with me and check it out. One of my favorite things about modern art is how a singular piece can evoke such different reactions in people; where I found a piece liberating and contemplative, my mom found it dark, cruel and depressing.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Since words will not adequately describe the new wing, I'll tell you some of the reasons I found it amazing:
* The vast collection of work
* The various media making up the wing's collection: film, photography, architecture and design, sculpture and paintings.
* The beautiful design of the wing itself: open, airy, great lighting and sleek/modern design.
Here are some tips to getting the most out of your visit to the modern wing:
* Don't visit on an empty stomach! Mom and I went first thing, unaware of how large the new wing was; toward the end our hunger prevented us from giving some pieces the attention they deserved.
* The earliest pieces are on the third floor so if you enjoy moving chronologically work top down.
* The have guided audio headsets if you so desire.
* Give yourself plenty of time to really do this wing and the whole museum justice. I would argue that a multi-day visit is in order.
There were only a few things I didn't like about the new wing. First, many of the rooms have a maze-like layout. If you're not careful you can easily miss some of the side rooms. Second, the architecture and design room has a singular entrance/exit so you have to backtrack through the room to leave; they frown on attempting to shimmy between a display case and the wall to avoid this - trust me!
The AIC is a must visit for locals and tourists alike, the collection is simply fantastic. To save a few dollars check it out on one of the free evenings.
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Two ironies:
Given the intriguing and self-analytical architecture exhibit on the second floor, why did the AIC pick such a staid and banal architect to design the Modern Wing? Ho hum, I say: this is the sort of set piece that my parents would like. Where's the innovation and forward thinking you want on such a era-defining commission? Alas, he might have captured the moment better than I had figured: this is the museum equivalent of all those bad condo towers that have gone up in the past five years.
Dos: what is it about art museums that brings out such heightened ignorance in people? Fuck all of you douche bags who clogged the halls and my ears with your philistine-like bird calls of "I like ___/I don't get ___"--don't you know that one of the prominent objectives of contemporary art is to reject the inadequacy of such thinking? Yeesh. Go to the poster store across the street if you want some lilies, you dumbfucks.
Okay, better now. The collection is fine: predictable, but certainly carefully culled to represent a sort of greatest hits of post-war art; I think another review captured it perfectly--and I did entertain the thought--that this was the "Now that's What I call Music!" compilation of abstract expressionism, with Twombly, Richter, Kelley, et al. all getting their due. My hope is that the curators, once finished with the shakedown cruise, get a chance to run with things, because I thought the photography collection was filled with ballsy choices that pissed off most of the troglodytes in the room--would like to see more of that risk-taking elsewhere in the new galleries.
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The new Modern Wing is fantastique!! I laughed with delight when we alighted on the landing looking out at the length of it. What a great setting for viewing VERY unique works of art!
We were there at night, but I can imagine how stunning it is with the natural light streaming in. The works definitely poke at your sense of normality and hook you in. One amusing piece was a log constructed into a log that the artist admired while in California (only this one was made in Japan!) And I loved the pieces by Ellsworth Kelly...so happy the Art Institute can share them with us!
I'm ashamed to admit that I've lived in Chicago my entire life and I have never been to the Art Institute...GASP! I know, I Know. I assure you their are more of us :)
But I took advantage of the modern wing grand opening FREE admission week and got myself a little culture. The museum is huge and beautiful and I'm klutzy, my bag is too big and I'm like a kid who wants to touch everything but I can't!
I like to look at the different pieces and try to relate to the artist. I wonder what inspired them, what they were thinking, what they were drinking :) or just what was happening in the world at that time that could have provoked their expression.
Cool place to visit and I would definitely go back.
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For being the modern wing, I wasn't as thought provoked as I expected. Yes, there are some seriously awesome pieces of work in here. And the space is well designed, even if overly filled with nooks and crannies. Everything certainly feels modern.
Sadly, it feels like one of those "Wow, Now That's What I Call Music!" CD's that were all the mainstream rage in the 90s. All the popular hits of the artists, none of the texture that comes with a full album.
It was great seeing a sketch by Le Corbuiser, whose architecture has had a major influence on my own design sensibilities. One of those choice moments in life I won't forget. But sadly, I got that sketch, a few words, and then nothing else. While it was great seeing a gallery dedicated to design, the fact they lumped architecture, visual communication and industrial works all into the same top level category was was frustrating. They included brochure design and it felt almost as if t was because they had to appear fair, not that they cared about the work.
So the permanent collection is geared heavily towards a highlight reel for tourists. I can dig that.
What I can't endorse s the lack of thought provoking material. There were maybe three pieces in the entire wing that carried any actual discussion beyond "I like the colors" or "wow, it is cool to finally see that in person." My biggest disappointment with the MCA Chicago was the bland, oversafe approach to curating, and I had hoped to the AIC make up for it. Sadly, that isn't the case. Why is it cities like Denver and Cincinnati can get it so right, while Chicago gets it so wrong?
Its a nice addition, and its mostly designed architecturally, but I was a little let down with the approach to filling the halls.
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Been here several times. Studied at the school during summer courses. The collection is outstanding but leave a whole day to view the collection, the building is confusing and if you're not careful you will get lost and miss some cool galleries.
I went this time to specifically check out the new CONTEMPORARY WING I was not disappointed. The art was great; there was a great mix of 1950's modern art to pieces that were completed this year. The special exhibit of Cy Twombly blew me away. The collection is large, colorful and moving.
The only disappointment was the gift shops, things were tacky and over priced. I was willing to spend some money on a nice piece of jewelry but it was all crap or way too expensive. My poster was even $18 and it's not mounted or framed. The books are outdated and old. Other than that you've gotta stop by and take a look, they have a little something for everyone. And a whole gallery of Toulouse Lautrec near the grand stair case!!
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I was able to attend a media preview of the new Modern Wing of The Art Institute of Chicago yesterday and have to write it was a real treat and something you shouldn't miss particularly during the next week.
Nearly a decade in the making, the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago has now opened its doors. Designed by the Pritzker-Prize winning architect Renzo Piano, the Modern Wing showcases the museum's exemplary collections of 20th & 21st century art, architecture, design, and photography (my favorite). With this addition, the Modern Wing makes the Art Institute the second largest art museum in the country which was something I didn't know until this event.
James Cuno, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago introduced the wing to a group of about 100 people in the Griffin Court as they stood above the crowd on the stair case between the 1st and 2nd floors. The Griffin Court makes up the main entrance to the Modern Wing and has ceilings soaring to the sky. Even with the rain yesterday, the room was very light and bright due to this clean and modern design.
This new wing will offer brand new galleries of modern and European painting and sculpture as well as contemporary art, including film, video, and new media. It will also offer much needed additional space for special exhibitions and gallery space for the Department of Architecture and Design and Department of Photography (my personal favorite).
We were told this in addition added 65,000 square feet of new gallery space along with a number of amenities, including an interior garden, an open-air sculpture terrace-which has a snow melt system that will allow year around use by visitors, a mezzanine café, a fine-dining restaurant that will be managed by award winning Spiaggia chef Tony Mantuano-which has yet to open, and finally a unique pedestrian bridge to Millennium Park.
The building itself is a work of art. In my opinion the building design has an elegant modesty about it. With its innovative sun shade system that allows gentle sunlight from the north, yet shields work from the harsh southern sun light, this canopy or "flying carpet" as it is called uses an estimated 50% less energy for light and heat than the existing portions of The Art Institute. There are 3 levels to the new wing and each floor can provide full-length striking views of Millennium Park and the city beyond.
The Nichols Bridgeway is not yet open, but still stunning to look at from the street. It stretches nearly an eighth of a mile and I was told its shape was inspired by the shape of a sleek, racing scull. It rises up to 30 feet above street level. Once the public is allowed to access the bridge it will be open from 7:30am until dusk.
There is also a garden named Pritzker Garden. It was raining, so I was unable to get up close and personal with the 12,000 square foot space that is being called an oasis. It has a crushed stone and grass terrace with outdoor seating and I'm sure will be quite popular in the warmer months with visitors.
Also housed in the new wing is an education center and makes sense as The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the first museums in the country to emphasize a role of a museum educator. With multiple classrooms, studios, and dedicated entrance this will continue to single out the Modern Wing and a modern marvel.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YELPERS TO KNOW IS there is a week long open house from May 16-22, 2009. You can enjoy the Modern Wing AS WELL AS the complete museum complex for FREE during this time!
In addition and effective May 23rd, 2009, THE ART INSTITUTE IS OFFERING A $2 DISCOUNT TO THE ADMISSION FEE FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS ONLY!
THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS THAT YOU CAN EVEN GET FREE TICKETS AFTER THE 23RD AT ANY LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCH IN CHICAGO, but the challenge was there was only 5 passes per branch. There will be now 10 passes per branch meaning there will be 3280 free tickets daily available to the public starting on the 23rd of May, so take advantage of this if you get the chance.
But you have a chance to do some good while enjoying this incredible space as The Art Institute is collaborating with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) and asking visitors to bring canned goods to the museum to help provide food for the Chicago Community. Rarely does GCFD have an opportunity to kick off a food drive in such a space, so PLEASE take canned goods when you go so you can get your art on and help someone out in need too!!!!
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