Marketing, Psychology, And Engineering In Art: Free Exhibits In The City

We’ve got an overwhelming art scene in Chicago, and accordingly, sifting through flyers, magazines, and catalogues to find events worth the effort of attending is practically a part-time job. But since we’ve been hit by a February Heat Wave (def. The point in a Chicago winter where it’s no longer painful to be outside), I thought I’d celebrate by finding some featured galleries and exhibits worth the travel. And of course, I’m a student blogger, so every event listed is free.

Typeforce7 Catalogues, Courtesy of firebelly.com

Typeforce7 // Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St. // Feb. 26 through Mar. 11

If you’re interested in how stylized words and letters have evolved alongside drawing, painting, and graphic design, you may be interested in this soon-to-open display. This year’s exhibit features brilliant modern works of bright, eye-catching compositions. The geometric minimalist trend lives on through this new style of pop-art. Pay attention to the sub-text of the texts you see around you in everything from books to advertisements; every stylistic choice is made for a reason. A few examples of what you’ll be seeing can be found here.

Seymour Rosofsky, Patient in Dentist’s Chair, 1961, Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago

Monster Roster: Existentialist Art in Postwar Chicago // Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave // Feb. 11 through June 12

On a slightly less cheery note, I’d like to draw your attention to the University of Chicago’s art museum. They’re currently featuring 60 pieces of art spawned by war-time inspirations. The pieces are incredibly personal to their artists; they capture abstract emotions which haven’t been thoroughly defined because they are experienced so infrequently, and only in extreme cases. These works will challenge the humanity of an audience with their profound investigations in the human consciousness. They represent an important chapter in our city’s history and the pride of those who wrote it.

A Dream Machine of Theo Jansen, Courtesy of the Chicago Cultural Center

Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen // Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. // Feb. 5 through May 1

On to kinetic sculpture, a truly moving art form. First of all, Jansen’s exhibit is set up in the Chicago Cultural Center, which is (in my (correct) opinion) the most beautiful interior in the city of Chicago. There doesn’t even need to be an exhibit on display to make this place worth the visit, but luckily, you’ll get to see two incredible feats of artistic mastery in one trip. Jansen’s sculptures make a good argument for Engineering’s case to become an art. Their designs are brilliant and their obvious care and precision in their construction is inspiring.

“Art is science, made clear.” –Jean Cocteau

#art