Monday, September 14, 2009

Museums and local artists

Leon Golub, Reclining Youth, 1959. Collection Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.
Gift of the Susan and Lewis Manilow Collection of Chicago Artists.

A friend and I traveled to Chicago this past weekend to see Olafur Eliason's show at the MCA before it closed and take in some openings in the West Loop. Olafur was, well amazingly Olafur, but what struck me most was the exhibition of paintings from the collection on the top floor of the MCA.

Paul Klein, whose Art Letter is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in the Chicago art scene, took note too. Klein counted 18 Chicago artists (I'm taking his word for it, I didn't personally count) hanging along side paintings from an international roster of past and present painting superstars. It was certainly a refreshing change from all the 'cookie cutter' (as Klein calls them) exhibitions across the country that often present the same roster of artists. Klein goes on to say "Watch Grynsztejn (MCA Director) uniquely size up the landscape and set the MCA on a course that will attract an international following - all stemming from an understanding of how a museum can tap into the local pulse and tweak the dialog to a new and different level."

The exhibition runs through Ocotober 18th. If you happen to be in the Chicagoland area, I give it the big thumbs up.

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