From July 6 to August 10, UIC will host a series of free art classes that are open to everyone. These classes emphasize collaboration and democratization of educational resources for the study of art, art history and particularly creative ways that art making can positively impact and augment society. Compare this concept of freely available arts education that in many cases is being taught by artists on faculty at UIC and other programs in Chicago to the current going rate of about $69,000 for a resident of Illinois to earn a four-year BFA from UIC, and it’s clear this is a boldly radical offering.
As they explain in their press release, “There are no applications required and no entrance exams to take. Enrollment in courses will be on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, except in those instances where an artist has specified their desire to work with particular age groups or individuals with special learning needs.” Each class is specially tailored to the topics offered, with meeting times of various lengths and at different locations on UIC’s campus and around the city. A renowned set of artists and scholars will be teaching these courses, including Alberto Aguilar, Miguel “Kane One” Aguilar, Elise Archias, Catherine Becker, Kevin Coval, Krista Franklin, Theaster Gates, Hannah Higgins, Christine Sun Kim, Jason Lazarus, Riva Lehrer, Faheem Majeed, Matthew Metzger, Dan Peterman, Michael Rakowitz, Jennifer Reeder and John Yau. (Matt Morris)
The Whole Package: Looking at the Art Matchmaking of “Not Just Another Pretty Face” at the Hyde Park Art Center Expect an especially exciting moment when the bell rings on the evening of September 14. White cloth that covers up all the artworks shall be pulled from the gallery walls inside the Hyde Park Art Center, unveiling some eighty commissioned works culminating from the latest two iterations—2021 and 2023—of the famed Chicago art matchmaker program.
Art For Life’s Sake: Sub-Saharan Art Reassessed The Art Institute's sub-Saharan holdings make it one of the preeminent collections in the United States. The museum presents traditional sub-Saharan art—with a through line to contemporary practices—focused on West and Central Africa. “One of the most striking aspects of this community’s visual culture is its use of colors."
