Categories: Museums
Museum of Contemporary Art
Author: Sarah DiGiulio
Three giant yellow-and-white statues guard the entrance to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) home to some of Chicago's most original art. The cast aluminum sculptures by Thomas Schutte set the tone for the museum--different and unexpected.
The ever-changing galleries showcase sculpture, paintings, film and everything called art from the past 60 years, Chicago's own and internationally-acclaimed works. Just blocks from Water Tower Place and the shopping mecca of the Magnificent Mile, the Museum of Contemporary Art is a calm sanctuary in a bustling city.
THE GALLERIES
Every visit means a fresh look at modern art because the MCA changes each of their galleries every three to four months, with either art on loan or works from the museum's extensive collection. Anything created after 1945 is fair game.
Visitors might find a pile of oversized vinyl and acrylic green beans, created by Claes Oldenburg in 1964. Or, the collection houses a work called "Felt Suit," created by Joseph Beuys in 1970--literally a felt suit on a hanger. Robert Rauschenberg's "Retroactive II" is part of the collection, an oil on silk screen painting that looks like a collage of an image of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and an astronaut.
The museum's collection also includes Alexander Calder's series of mobiles. Calder used pieces of sheet metal, wire, and steel to make art that floats in mid-air. "Bird," created in 1952, is an abstract representation of a bird made from coffee cans, tin, and copper wire. "Black: 17 Dots," from 1959, rotates slowly as it hangs from the MCA's ceiling, perfectly balanced. Museum staff say Calder's work is frequently on display.
Other works include paintings by Rene Magritte, Andy Warhol, Ad Reinhardt and imaginative carpentry by H.C. Wetermann.
EDIBLE ART
Sit down and savor a full lunch and dessert at Puck's Restaurant in the MCA. The full-service restaurant features gourmet pizzas, sandwiches, salads, seafood and chicken entrees. White tablecloths cover tables both inside and out (weather-permitting), overlooking the museum's sculpture garden and a distant view of Lake Michigan. For a quick meal, the express counter offers the same tasty flavors in a selection of sandwiches, salads, bakery goods, coffee and teas--without the wait staff.
SOME TIPS...
The museum's stage features dance, film, and music events. Visit the website for updated events listings.
Be sure to ask about discounted admission prices: Tuesdays are free for all. Students, seniors, and children get discounts every day. The museum also offers free guided tours of the MCA's exhibits daily; ask about the day's tour times when buying admission.
Plan a summer visit to the MCA on Tuesday evenings. Admission is free and from June to September the museum features live jazz music outside on the back terrace. Rain or shine, the event takes place from 5:30 until 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Don't forget a blanket to picnic on the lawn--the museum does not allow outside food, but snacks are for sale from Puck's Express Counter.
SHOPPING
Take some art home: art to wear, art to eat from and art to read. The MCA Store offers a wide varieity of gifts to remember a museum visit.
Plump up any library with books about artists in the museum, Chicago architecture, "green" design and much more. The jewelry in the case is just as contemporary as the art on display. One-of-a-kind rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets will turn heads. Variety is the specialty in this shop--find toys, note cards, T-shirts, dishes, scarves, umbrellas and lots more. Perusing both floors in the shop is another exhibit in itself.
