After looking through the various fairs going on in the Merchandise Mart's Artropolis extravaganza, Esteban and I decided to attend one of the events hosted by the Chicago Spire Development group. The Chicago Spire is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Chicago, Illinois. The building was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. At 2,000 feet and with 150 floors, the building is likely to be the second tallest in the world when completed in 2011. During the event we enjoyed h'orderves, and a walk through the architectural firm where various renditions and sketches were on display as well as examples of many of the Spire's rooms.
After visiting the Spire we headed over to the Leslie Hindman Auction House at 1338 W. Lake St. "Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts and always maintains a practice of achieving the highest prices while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and customer service." The collection on view was impressive; with a number of works from the 20th Century Decorative Arts, English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Works of Art, as well as Post War and Contemporary Art pieces. Amongst the many favorites was a painting by Roger Brown which sold for $38,400 tonight!
After going to the Leslie Hindman Auction House we headed over to the MFA Show with works on view by the class of 2008 Graduate students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at Gallery 2 and Project Space. As I entered the gallery space, a thunderous sound emitted from the first floor gallery which is usually closed off and unused. A set-up by artists Ben Fain and Leon Reeves consisted of a number of parade items like giant paper-mache pizza faces, streamers, balloons, and individual performances by a number of the school's performance artists. The thunderous sound, as I soon learned was a choir comprised of voodoo-like, monstrous, fantastical performers singing their hearts out and stomping their feet while singing and calling upon all gods of the Sky. It was amazing. The works upstairs were also very interesting to see.
I need to get as much rest as I can now because tomorrow morning we have to wake up early for a breakfast at the MCA! It's been a long and exhausting day and the weekend has only just begun...
Dan Berger, Esteban Schimpf, Jack Shainman, Justin Polera and I pose for a photo in front of NIck Cave's elaborately decorated sound suits on display at Art Chicago.
Robert MacNeil is seen standing in front of a Roger Brown painting at the Leslie Hindman Auction House.
A display case contained a number of ceramic plates by Kerry James Marshall at the LH Auction House.
Kaylee Rae Wyant stands to the side of a collaboration between artist Jerome Acks and herself at the 2008 MFA Exhibition at 847 W. Jackson.
Robbie and Esteban standing in front of the parade setup by Ben Fain and Leon Reeves.
