Lyric Unlimited Presents CHICAGO VOICES VIEW, Featuring Three Chicago Musicians

Through the dynamic Chicago Voices initiative, Lyric Unlimited is partnering with graduate students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to present Chicago Voices VIEW, an iconic photographic exhibition that opens December 2in three Chicago neighborhoods across the city. Chicago Voices VIEW was conceived as a visual and artistic partnership project with graduate students in SAIC's Masters in Arts Administration and Policy program to curate the original exhibits, which pay homage to some of the most creative and powerful vocalists in America, all with direct ties to Chicago, by some of the nation's most significant photographers.

The exhibits, which will run concurrently through February 4, celebrate multi-genre Chicago vocalists, both historic and contemporary, with venues located respectively on the west, north and south sides of the city:

• Homan Square Community Center, 3517 W. Arthington, Chicago (includes opening night reception open to the public December 2, 6-9p.m.)
• Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
• Ancien Cycles & Café, 1558 E. 53rd St., Chicago

Some of the high-powered artists spotlighted in the exhibits include blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf; "The Queen of Gospel" Mahalia Jackson; "King of Soul" Sam Cooke; Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder; Wilco singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy; and beloved folk singer, Steve Goodman.

Artists contributing to the exhibits include renowned rock & roll photographer Paul Natkin, journalist and photographer Sue Cassidy Clark, blues photographer John Rockwood, photographer and filmmaker Christopher Hall, as well as classic photographs from the archives of Ebony Magazine, Chicago History Museum, Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago, and The Library of Congress.

Chicago Voices is a groundbreaking, multi-year initiative celebrating Chicago's vibrant, diverse vocal music culture. This innovative project aims to create an inclusive platform for celebrating the human voice, while illuminating the legacy of Chicago vocal traditions and amplifying the narratives of everyday Chicagoans. Presented by Lyric Opera, Chicago Voicesis spearheaded by its creative consultant Renée Fleming and is a joint project with Lyric Unlimited. Chicago Voices is a project of Lyric Unlimited, Lyric Opera of Chicago's department dedicated to education, community engagement, and new artistic initiatives.

Partners for Chicago Voices are Chicago Public Library, Chicago History Museum, Columbia College Chicago, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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