Modern Wing - What a Wonder!

Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Although it just opened in May, I had already heard lots of great things and was excited to see it for myself. I must admit, I was so taken with the building itself that my interest in the collections almost became secondary! The artwork I had seen it before, but this building... it's amazing! Built by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, it is light, airy, open and crisp. You are truly looking at works of art while standing in a work of art!

Diffuse natural light bathes everything in the building. The exterior glass walls and roof are covered with louvers which provide wonderful lighting conditions for the artwork and the interior glass walls have pull down shades which can be adjusted in the galleries during different times of day.

The main corridor is breathtaking and open to the top floor of the building with a floating cantilever staircase and balconies on the north side. But for me, the icing is literally on the top of the cake. The third floor galleries house the Modern European collection and seeing the likes of Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian, Kandinsky and Dali in this setting took the experience to a whole new level. Between the canvasses of these great artists are picture-perfect views of the city and Millennium Park and above you, the architectural interest of the louvered roof - also known as the "Flying Carpet".

I was so absorbed in the experience it didn't even occur to me to take any pictures. But it's better that you go see it for yourself! If you can't, be sure to check out the Art Institute website and see what they have to say about it. You'll be impressed with what you see.

Upcoming Event: Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook

I'm happy to announce that Art's Desire will be participating in the 1st Annual Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook on May 2nd & 3rd!  Held the weekend before Mother's Day this is the perfect chance to get out and find a special handmade gift for your Mother or simply find something unique for yourself!  The festival is being held at one of the area's premier open air shopping centers which is conveniently located at the Boughton Rd. exit off of I-355 in Bolingbrook, IL.  With live music, fine dining and tons of great artwork - what's not to love!  If you're in the area be sure to come out and see me!

For more info on the show, visit Virgo Rising Presents or check out the pre-show exhibit on display in one of the storefronts at the Promenade Bolingbrook.  The promoters have done a beautiful job with this exhibit and I'd like to thank them for including my work!

Monday Motivation - Edvard Munch - Painter/Printmaker

This week's Monday Motivation is a day late, but I hope you'll find the featured artist inspiring nonetheless.  On Friday, my husband and I decided to take a trip to The Art Institute of Chicago.  We've been living outside of the city for a full year and have not made our way to the museum yet.  This is a strange thing for me since I made an annual trip with my mother all the way through high school and it's one of my favorite places in Chicago.  But when I learned that admission to the museum is free and that tickets to the new Munch exhibit are half off through the month of February, I decided it was time we made the trip.  My husband had never been and it was a great inaugural visit.  

Becoming Edvard Munch: Influence, Anxiety and Myth opened on Valentine's Day and runs through April 26th.  The exhibit counters the widely held belief that Munch was mentally unstable or that he was not influenced by his Scandinavian peers.  Paintings and prints by Munch are displayed side-by-side with the work of artists like Claude Monet, Max Klinger and James Ensor.  It's a fantastic in-depth look at an artist who spent his career finding ways to express intense emotions through his work.  If you have an opportunity to go, I very much recommend it.  Munch's work is raw and emotional and his story is told well through his own hand. (Above: Edvard Munch, Madonna, 1894-1895, painting)