By Helene Smith
Beloved gem.
(ENLARGE FOR PROPER VIEWING)
Posted on May 29, 2015
Charles Ray Is Almost Famous
‘A Disturbing Presence In Contemporary Art’
“Charles Ray, one of today’s most critically admired sculptors, has since the 1970s produced an extraordinarily varied oeuvre whose common thread has been a preoccupation with reality and illusion,” Ken Johnson writes for the New York Times.
“Since the late 1990s, he has been creating works of terrific technical ambition and sometimes controversial subject matter.
“For Charles Ray: Sculpture 1997-2014, the Art Institute of Chicago has devoted the 18,000 square feet of its second floor Modern Wing to just 17 pieces, affording lots of breathing room for each.
“‘Horse and Rider’ (2014), a full-scale equestrian self-portrait, will be displayed elsewhere in the museum. It’s one of four works in the show that have not been previously exhibited.”
Posted on May 27, 2015
Checking In On Summer Pieces
Beach Bag Essentials!
Hi Steve,
I hope all is well! I wanted to send you a quick note and see what pieces you’re currently working on?
Well, I hope to get back to that 50 Most Loathsome People In Chicago piece soon . . .
If you’re planning to work on any Summer Beach Bag Essentials pieces, I would love to put Hint Water, MacKenzie-Childs, Supergoop, DryBar and M-61 on your radar.
Oh. Who did you say you were again?
I have included some items for your reference below. I am more than happy to provide you with any additional info or images – just let me know!
Posted on May 24, 2015
Beachwood Photo Booth: Chicagolandia
(The Damen Silos
Beachwood Photo Booth: Evanston Turkey
(The Midcentury Mood
Milton Schwartz In America, 1951-1965
“Despite his significant contributions to the Chicago skyline and groundbreaking early hotel design for the Las Vegas Strip, Milton Schwartz remains an under-recognized figure from an important period in American architecture,” the Art Institute of Chicago says.
“The son of an engineer, Schwartz studied at the University of Illinois, where he was inspired to become an architect by the lectures of Frank Lloyd Wright.
“After a few years in the construction industry during World War II, Schwartz founded his own Chicago architectural practice and soon completed his first project, a visionary co-op building, 320 Oakdale, where he combined passive solar technology with a dynamic aesthetic of glass, aluminum, and modern brise-soleil.
“Schwartz went on to specialize in high-rise apartment buildings and designs for leisure and hospitality, most notably his iconic tower and restaurants for the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas.”
Posted on May 11, 2015
Beachwood Photo Booth: 3-Flat
(Chicagoetry: Michigan City Blues
By J.J. Tindall
MICHIGAN CITY BLUES
“In Chicago you become a connoisseur of the near nothing.” – Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift
Seven Choruses
1
I can see clearly
Now, clear
As the spring sky,
That I will work
Until the day
I die.
Posted on May 5, 2015
Eldzier Cortor Coming Home
By The Art Institute Of Chicago
“A look at the life and art of the extraordinary artist, Eldzier Cortor, who made a recent gift to the Art Institute: a painting, 30 prints, and several printing matrices. Presenting selected works from the gift – many on display for the first time – the current exhibition celebrates this outstanding addition to the collection.”
Posted on May 4, 2015