If there is one thing that I love, it’s a great museum exhibit. And, to couple that with an art and design school; I’m in heaven. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) which is all on the same grounds as the Art Institute of Chicago.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the most historically significant accredited independent schools of art and design in the nation while the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s greatest art museums, housing a collection that spans centuries and the globe.
All of that greatness located in just one space!
Since SAIC is not your traditional college campus, we had to walk a bit downtown to get to other buildings we were touring. On our trek through downtown Chicago, we passed by street work for the Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again exhibit. Talk about exciting!
Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again Exhibit
According to the Art Institute of Chicago, “This major retrospective—the first to be organized by a US institution in 30 years—builds on the wealth of new research, scholarship, and perspectives that has emerged since Andy Warhol’s early death at age 58 in 1987.”
Knowing that this exhibit is here is exciting to me because it’s a great opportunity to see and learn more about Warhol. It’s also a great opportunity to draw inspiration from. I feel that whenever you are working on new projects, it’s always a good idea to stroll through other works of art, especially museums to get your creative juices flowing. Wouldn’t you agree?
While I wasn’t able to visit the exhibit this go around, I’m sure that I’ll make my way back before it closes in January 2020.
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
In the meantime, I just returned from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie, Illinois earlier this month. I’ve often heard of students going, but I never really heard much about what they learned about the Holocaust while at the museum. Thankfully, I was able to visit the museum and have my own learning experience.
This visit was less about inspiration and more about learning more about what happened during the Holocaust and afterward. In a nutshell, the Museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust by honoring the memories of those who were lost and by teaching universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice, and indifference.
Aside from learning about the Holocaust, I did have the opportunity to spend some time at some additional exhibits such as the Activists and Icons: The Photographs of Steve Schapiro. This exhibit was one of my favorites and shows through powerful documentary photography that the issues of the civil rights movement are still deeply relevant today. Ouch!
Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt
Lastly, I’ve been gearing up for my visit next month to the Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt in Kansas City. I have a huge interest in Ancient Egypt and while I don’t study and read about it day in and day out, I do visit as many exhibits as I can – and read as much as I can.
If you remember, back in 2014, I was able to experience the King Tut exhibit while in Kansas City. My hope at the time was to get the boys there, but I missed the opportunity; not once but twice. Sigh. Now the exhibit is in London and they don’t have passports.
As an alternative, my most recent plan has been to get them to the Field Museum in Chicago. I really enjoyed my visit Inside Ancient Egypt last year and think they may enjoy it as well.
But, in the meantime, I’m going to finish up my book on Nefertiti and my mini-book on Isis to give me more of a glimpse inside Ancient Egypt.
What museums and exhibits are you currently crushing on?
Don’t forget to check out…
7 Museums You Must Visit at Least Once
2 out of the 10 Coolest Museums in the US
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