Chicago's EXPO ART WEEK Kicks Off Today

By: Tyler Peterson Sep. 17, 2013

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, in conjunction with Choose Chicago and Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events(DCASE), present EXPO ART WEEK, a citywide celebration of arts and culture with over 100 special events, institutions, museums, galleries, theaters and restaurants participating, Sept. 16 - 22, 2013. For an entire list of EXPO ART WEEK events including Chicago gallery openings, visitexpochicago.com/visitors/expo-art-week.

Launching the international fall arts season and as the centerpiece of EXPO ART WEEK, EXPO CHICAGO (Sept. 19 - 22) will join together with the city's most prestigious cultural institutions to highlight the unique programming and special events offered throughout Chicago. Presenting both public and VIP events, EXPO ART WEEK invites collectors, dealers, art enthusiasts, tourists and residents to experience the artistic depth that is rooted in this city and what makes Chicago a true cultural destination.

"To see the city of Chicago and all of the leading cultural and entertainment institutions join together in an effort to showcase the city's arts and culture during EXPO ART WEEK is truly extraordinary," said EXPO CHICAGO President and Director Tony Karman. "We envision that the joint partnership with both the institutions aligned with Choose Chicago and DCASE will further enhance our efforts to attract the world's leading collectors, curators and art enthusiasts to visit our city and attend EXPO CHICAGO during this exciting week."

"EXPO CHICAGO is an important asset to the cultural fabric of our city. With the broader experience of EXPO ART WEEK, residents of Chicago as well as visitors from around the world can take advantage of the incredible talent and artistry on display," said Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Michelle T. Boone. Choose Chicago Vice President, Cultural Tourism & NeighborhoodsMelissa Cherry added "Choose Chicago is proud to promote EXPO ART WEEK to national and international visitors and encourage them to experience EXPO CHICAGO and all the great events that are taking place at that time."

EXPO ART WEEK PUBLIC EVENTS:

EXPO CHICAGO has worked closely with both cultural and civic organizations in order to maximize the rich and vibrant culture on display during EXPO ART WEEK.

To kick off EXPO ART WEEK, EXPO CHICAGO and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) join together for a celebration at the Civic Opera House (Green Roof, 20 N. Wacker Dr.) The evening also includes a reception at Cooper Technica, Inc., a vintage auto restoration company, where a special exhibition of rare Avion Voisins will be on display juxtaposed with work by Brice McCall presented byJames Goodman Gallery. To conclude the celebratory evening, charity:water will host a public soiree at the W Lakeshore (172 W. Adams). Leaving New York for the first time, charity:water's "WaterWalk" raises money to provide clean water throughout the world. Join MC, Kevin Aeh and Chicago designer Jason Pickleman, who has created a signature piece for the event as guests walk down a runway to raise money for sanitation and water projects in Orissa, India.

The Fall season of "The Dinner Party" kicks off on Sept. 16th with NBC's "Chicago Fire" and "Sex and the City" star, David Eigenberg, Artistic Director of The Goodman Theatre, Robert Falls and Second City's Katie Rich. Chef Jason Vincent, voted one of Food and Wines best chefs for 2013, makes dinner for everyone, including the audience, while host Elysabeth Alfano engages in a cultural conversation.

"The Goodman Theatre is proud to be taking part in this year's EXPO ART WEEK, one of this city's hallmark events," said Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. "The scope and range of Chicago's vibrant arts and cultural scene is truly amazing, and this citywide celebration of every facet of our artistic community reaffirms Chicago's status as a world class arts center."

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, a large-scale aluminum sculpture, "Complex Form #6," by American artist Sol LeWitt (1928 - 2007), in association with Rosenthal Fine Art, will be installed at the home of EXPO CHICAGO, Navy Pier.

Performance artist and Chicago native Tony Orrico, represented by MARSO Gallery, will present "Penwald: 8: 12 by 12 on Knees" at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St) on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Centralizing on themes of cyclic motion and the generation and regeneration of material, Orrico's work draws on the tension between what is fleeting and what is captured.

That same evening at the Chicago Cultural Center, The Andy Warhol Museum and KIWI Arts Grouppresent's William John Kennedy's Signature "Warhol Holding the Marilyn Acetate" photograph to theChicago Public Library.

The WAC Crawl is the latest development of the Wabash Arts Corridor. Featuring gallery openings, concerts, dance and street performances, multimedia demonstrations, chalk art, sidewalk sales, the unveiling of the Columbia College's Papermaker's Garden and a Joffrey Ballet rehearsal performance in the storied Auditorium Theatre, the event serves as a gateway to the South Loop along Wabash Avenue from Congress to Roosevelt.

"Level," a free, five-day (Sept. 18 - 22), annual architecture and art event showcasing site specific, experimental, interactive installations that embrace Chicago's rich cultural landscape. During EXPO ART WEEK, architects, designers and artists will transform four unique spaces along the Chicago River into destination places for visitors and locals alike.

The Chicago Public Library will host a special presentation featuring their Artist's Month Artist-in-Residence, Chicago resident Tom Burtonwood, talking about his inspiration in creating his 3-D book "Orihon (3D Printed Accordion Book)," and demonstrating how it was produced. The event will take place simultaneously during the opening of EXPO CHICAGO on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 pm at the Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
Innovation Lab (400 S. State Street, 3rd floor).

The Briar Street Theatre, home of the long-running Blue Man Group, will present a semi-permanent out-door art gallery featuring the work of six selected artists. 10' by 10' reproductions of each artist's piece will be placed on the South exterior wall of the Briar Street Theatre in Lakeview (3133 N. Halsted St.) with the original pieces on display inside the lobby. The unveiling will take place in conjunction with EXPO ART WEEK on Friday, Sept. 20 at 11:30 am.

Project Onward, which supports adult artists with mental and developmental disabilities, celebrates EXPO ART WEEK with the opening of their new facility at the Bridgeport Art Center and its inaugural gallery exhibition "Brothers for Life: Ricky and Wesley Willis." Project Onward will also install site-specific artworks at EXPO CHICAGO, created by Ricky Willis.

The 15th Annual World Music Festival Chicago, presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, will take place during EXPO ART WEEK, featuring more than 70 international performances representing 34 countries from around the globe. Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21,Magic Carpet (World Jazz Fusion), Black Bear Combo (Balkan Brass Band), Las BomPleneras (Bomba & Plena) and Byzantine Time Machine (Ethno Dub) will perform during EXPO CHICAGO at the Landshark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.

Offering special promotions and discounted tickets to the general public during EXPO ART WEEK and kicking off the fall performance art season, are some of Chicago's finest entertainment institutions.

"The fall season is an exciting time in the arts community, when some of the most vibrant and exciting work is shared and presented, setting the tone for the season ahead. It is our hope that in engaging with EXPO CHICAGO and this shared international audience, all Chicagoans will benefit from this extraordinary endeavor," said Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey. "Just as Lyric Opera aspires to provide a broad, deep cultural service to the city, EXPO ART WEEK provides international visitors and residents alike the chance to experience the diverse offerings of Chicago's vibrant arts institutions," added General Director of the Lyric Opera Anthony Freud.

Institutions include Blue Man Group, Broadway in Chicago, Goodman Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, Lookingglass Theatre, River North Dance Chicago and Steppenwolf Theatre. In addition, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will offer EXPO CHICAGO VIP's premiere seating and the Lyric Opera of Chicagowill offer EXPO CHICAGO VIP's an exclusive backstage tour of one of Chicago's staple buildings both from a performance and architectural standpoint. Broadway in Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance and the Joffrey Ballet will also offer special discounts and experiences for VIP's. For a full list of events contact Kathleen Rapp at k.rapp@expositionchicago.com.

EXPO ART WEEK has also teamed with some of Chicago's top restaurants as well as the Illinois Restaurant Association/Chicago Gourmet in order to highlight the culinary talents of the city. Blackbird, David Burke's Steakhouse, Embeya, Grace, Longman & Eagle, Masaki, MK, MOTO, NOMI, Pelago, Publican, Pump Room, Sepia, Spiaggia and Trencherman will provide special offers with proof of an EXPO CHICAGO ticket or EXPO ART WEEK official NewCity Guide.

In addition to EXPO CHICAGO, two satellite fairs will run during EXPO ART WEEK. EDITION Chicagoconnects new and established contemporary art collectors to galleries and organizations representing and promoting emerging artists from around the country. The fair is held at Chicago Artists Coalition (217 N. Carpenter St.) Sept. 20 - 22. Fountain Art Fair, celebrated as the first of a new influential generation of alternative fairs, aims to showcase the most progressive programming providing an accessible platform for artists, galleries and independent projects from Chicago and beyond. The fair will be held at the new Mana Contemporary, storage facility located at 2233 S. Throop St., Sept. 20 - 22.

Gallery Weekend Chicago will once again work in tandem with EXPO CHICAGO to highlight the city's premier contemporary art galleries with viewings of new exhibitions and artist talks at Chicago's top galleries. For more information visit www.galleryweekendchicago.com.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Touring Production - Top 3

1. Hadestown

12.7% of votes

2. Les Misérables

9.6% of votes

3. Hamilton

8.8% of votes

Vote Now! View Live Stats

Videos

Need more Broadway Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...