Categories: Museums
The Art Institute of Chicago
Author: Jennifer Nunez
In the norther region of Grant Park, right on Michigan Avenue , lies The Art Institute of Chicago which houses more than 5,000 years of human artistic expression from all over the world. Admission is $12. Also, Thanks to Target Free Summer Evenings, Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. admission is free of charge, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Founded in 1879, the Institute was built with the intention of being both a museum and school, and that mission is still in place today: the school's graduate program is constantly ranked as one of the best in the country. The museum displays art in many forms, including paintings, photographs, sculptures and drawings fill large chunks of the museum. Ancient artifacts from around the globe, including exclusive gems and diamonds, and even modernized art like graphic arts can be found in abundance as well. Art doesn't have to be primeval to be appreciated; the Field Museum keeps up with all kinds of expression.
Each piece of art has its own plaque of details explaining who created it, when they created it, what it is made from, and any other information that can be explained about the piece. If you only have a half hour, or the whole day to spend at the Field Museum , it's worth a peek
European Painting and Sculpture
The crown jewel among the Art Institute's collections, this group is considered among the finest in the world. Spanning 13th through mid-20th century works, the European collection offers Impressionism, Postimpressionism, and classic Modern painting and sculpture. Some of the most identifiable pieces include Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte ; Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day; and Mac Chagall's America Windows, along with works by Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and more.
American
The American art collection is another highly celebrated group, featuring important paintings and sculpture along with decorative arts, furniture and silver. Mexican artists are also featured in this department, which offers works from the 17th Century to the present. Among the many artists in this group are Grant Wood ( American Gothic ), Edward Hopper ( Nighthawks ), plus multiple pieces by Mary Cassatt, Georgia O'Keefe, John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer. Walk into the American Decorative Arts collection and you’ll feel as if you’ve walked into a furniture store of the past. Chairs, desks, and tables of all designs and materials fill the space. Highlights include Sitting Beaver by Frank Gehry in Santa Monica , Calif. , an armless chair constructed with corrugated cardboard and plywood in 1929; and Skyscraper Cabinet made of black painted wood and silver detailing resembling the gigantic Manhattan skyline by Paul Theodore Frankl in 1927.
Contemporary
For a crash course in contemporary art, The Art Institute is a good place to go. Its collection of contemporary art covers every major art movement from 1950 to the present and includes painting, sculpture, installation art and new media. Featured contemporary artists include Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jackson Pollock, among many others. Modern photography not only uses photographs to portray art, but mixed media like cloth, lace, push-pins and clocks to enhance a photographic masterpiece. Sinking Ship by Joy Boersma in 1987 is a gelatin silver print, three-part photograph. The frame is matted with three openings. The first opening is a photograph of an old ship, like the ones pirate’s stole, very much above water. The second opening is the same photograph, but slightly lowered, hidden behind the matting. The last photo is again, the same, very much above water ship, but almost completely hidden under the matting of the frame. It is not the ship itself that was sinking at the time of the photograph, but the photo itself sinking. Now that’s what I call thinking outside the box!
Architecture and Design
As befits a city celebrated for its pioneering contributions to architecture, the Art Institute's collection of architecture and design includes master works and artists. The roster of architects includes Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright – each of whom left their mark on Chicago and can be seen both inside and outside the museum's walls. Look for models, drawings and fragments from the 1870s to present, and from around the world.
Modern
This highly regarded and comprehensive collection exists in great part due to important Chicago collectors of the past, such as Potter Palmer and Arthur Jerome Eddy, as well as generous contributions from artists including Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz. Pablo Picasso's Old Guitarist and Henri Matisse's Bathers by a River are just two among nearly a thousand of The Art Institute's Modern pieces, which come from the Americas as well as Europe .
Global works
Among the distinguished collections at The Art Institute, you'll find Asian, with 35,000 pieces from China, Korea, Japan, India, Southwest Asia, and the Near and Middle East; African, primarily from central Africa but also including pieces from north, east and southern Africa; Amerindian, with ceramics, sculpture, textiles and metalwork; and an Ancient collection with Greek, Etruscan, Roman and Egyptian pieces.
Touch Gallery
“Look, but don’t touch” has always been the motto of museums no matter where you go, but at The Art Institute of Chicago, they encourage visitors to touch and feel sculptures in the lower level of the Allerton Building . The Touch Gallery was specifically designed for visually impaired visitors, allowing them the opportunity to examine and appreciate art, but the exhibit is available for everyone to enjoy. Kings, princesses and other noble people in history are sculpted from materials like marble, limestone, granite and bronze and treated with a protective wax, which allows hands to skim over the material without damaging the piece. A bronze bust of Joan of Arc, who led the French Army to victory against the English in the Hundred Years’ War, sits in the center of the gallery; she is shown wearing a suit of armor held together with raised buckles and hinges, which allowed her to move freely. Touching these five sculptures will not only give you the chance to get up-close and personal with pieces of historic art, but help build a deeper appreciation for art and artists overall
Thorne Miniature Rooms
The 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms are like glamorous dollhouses created in extensive detail giving you a glimpse of European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930s. These diorama-esque rooms were constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot and portrays more than just interior designs from different periods of time, but they depict what life was like for the people living in these houses. Kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, bathrooms, drawing rooms, entryways, and even a four-foot-tall English Roman Catholic Church from the 13th century are the types of recreations found in the Thorne Gallery. A French library from the 1930s is filled with bookcases, a fireplace and tables and chairs made from golden cloth; the room is complete with marble statues, gold light fixtures and plants. The room has two tall sliding-glass doors; one, overlooks into a garden with trimmed bushes and tall statues; the other, leads to an outdoor patio with a painted Eiffel Tower in the background.
Art Institute Information
Already a sprawling institution, The Art Institute is currently undergoing a major construction project that will increase its gallery space by 33 percent in 2009, so start planning your return visit.
**Please note that throughout the next two years, as the museum undergoes expansion, there will be numerous gallery closings and re-installations. If there is a particular collection you are eager to see, call ahead (312-443-3600) to confirm that it is open to the public.
Check out places of interest near The Art Institute of Chicago:
17 West at The Berghoff
17 W. Adams St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
The Berghoff, a traditional 19th-century German beer hall located in Chicago's downtown, has been re-born under the direction of the founder's great-grandduaghter Carlyn Berghoff.
312 Chicago
136 N. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60602
This seasonally influenced Italian-inspired American eatery buzzes by day with politicians (City Hall is across the street), and buzzes with diners heading to the nearby Cadillac Theater at night.
Make a Reservation
Ai
358 W. Ontario Street,
Chicago, IL 60610
This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007. From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.
Custom House
500 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, IL 60605
Custom House, led by Shawn McClain, named Best Chef Midwest by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, focuses on offering the finest artisanal meats and fresh, seasonal ingredients. Unlike most classic steak houses, Custom House allows carnivores to savor their meat raw, cured, marinated, braised, roasted and slow-cooked.
Elephant & Castle
160 E. Huron St.,
Chicago, IL 60611
At this English pub in Chicago, expect a mix of traditional English pub fare and American menu items are served here; English-style breakfast is also a draw.
Elephant & Castle
185 North Wabash,
Chicago, Illinois 60601
At this English pub in Chicago, expect a mix of traditional English pub fare and American menu items are served here; English-style breakfast is also a draw
Elephant & Castle
111 W. Adams St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
At this English pub in Chicago, expect a mix of traditional English pub fare and American menu items are served here; English-style breakfast is also a draw
Exposure Tapas Supper Club
1313 S. Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60605
A new staple in the South Loop, Exposure Tapas Supper Club works as both a restaurant and a music-centric lounge.
Park Grill
11 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60602
Specializing in classic American cuisine with a hint of sophistication, Park Grill is versatile venue with an equally broad menu.
Tavern at the Park
130 E. Randolph St.,
Chicago, IL 60601
Trying to give off that neighborhood tavern feel, while serving up fine dining dishes right across from Millennium Park.
The Gage
24. S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60603
The Gage offers high-end Irish fare with a touch of elegance and class. Located near Millenium Park, this restaurant offers traditional Irish foods along with all-American favorites.
Garrett Popcorn Shop
4 East Madison Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60602
Since 1949, Chicagoans have been enjoying Garrett Popcorn, Carmel Corn, and Cheese Corn. The popcorn is hot-air popped using no oils or fats.
Macy's
835 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60611
Part of Water Tower Place, this is a second downtown location of this famed department store.
Macy's On State Street
111 N. State St,
Chicago, IL 60602
Taking up an entire Chicago shopping block on State Street, this landmark department store opened in 1852 and continues to offer top levels of service and merchandise.
17 West at The Berghoff
17 W. Adams St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
The Berghoff, a traditional 19th-century German beer hall located in Chicago's downtown, has been re-born under the direction of the founder's great-grandduaghter Carlyn Berghoff.
312 Chicago
136 N. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60602
This seasonally influenced Italian-inspired American eatery buzzes by day with politicians (City Hall is across the street), and buzzes with diners heading to the nearby Cadillac Theater at night.
Make a Reservation
Ai
358 W. Ontario Street,
Chicago, IL 60610
This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007. From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.
Buddy Guy's Legends
754 S. Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60605
World-renowned and local Chicago blues artists are the draw at this club owned by blues legend, Buddy Guy, as is the soul-ful Cajun food and major music paraphenalia also on display here.
Exposure Tapas Supper Club
1313 S. Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60605
A new staple in the South Loop, Exposure Tapas Supper Club works as both a restaurant and a music-centric lounge.
Potter's
17 E Monroe St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
Located inside the Palmer House Hilton, Potter's offers unique retro cocktails and delicious small plates in a classically elegant setting.
The Gage
24. S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60603
The Gage offers high-end Irish fare with a touch of elegance and class. Located near Millenium Park, this restaurant offers traditional Irish foods along with all-American favorites.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 South Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60602
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) offers a 88 different tours in total. You can explore the city by bus, boat, bike on foot or even via a segway.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60604
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the heartbeat of Chicago. The CSO has numerous concerts and special events throughout the year. See the full list at their website. Tickets range from $10 to $200.
Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus Co.
401 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60609
Daily tours of Chicago in San Fransisco-style trolleys and London-style buses, narrated by expert guides, are offered here. Take Chicago trolley tours as a worry-free way to get around the city of Chicago; it's "Hop On Hop Off".
Macy's On State Street
111 N. State St,
Chicago, IL 60602
Taking up an entire Chicago shopping block on State Street, this landmark department store opened in 1852 and continues to offer top levels of service and merchandise.
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St,
Chicago, IL 60610
Millennium Park has become Chicago’s newest main stage attraction. Aligned with the city’s emphasis on architectural innovation, this 24.5-acre phenomenon integrates historical significance with contemporary style from a number of international players. It is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the north and Monroe Street to the south.
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr,
Chicago, IL 60637
The Museum of Science and Industry, one of the most beloved and visited museums in the world, has origins that are tied to two great World's Fairs and to civic spirit and imagination of Chicago businessman Julius Rosenwald.
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60603
Discover 5,000 years of artistic expression at one of the world's great art museums. Journey through Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas as you enjoy paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, textiles, and architectural works. Admission $7-$12.
Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus Co.
401 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60609
Daily tours of Chicago in San Fransisco-style trolleys and London-style buses, narrated by expert guides, are offered here. Take Chicago trolley tours as a worry-free way to get around the city of Chicago; it's "Hop On Hop Off".
