What: Use the Smithsonian Mag’s Museum Day admission card for free general admission at many museums nationwide.

When: Saturday, September 27, 2008

How: Download the admission card from the Smithsonian Mag’s website, or in the September 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine. Present the card to get free general admission, special exhibits not included, but its a start right!

Where: Check out participating locations here

In Town Sept 13 & 14? Come out to the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago’s Wicker Park on Division St. between Damen & Hermitage. There will be 250 booths and over 300 artists and some music too! Best of all, its free! Check out some fabulous artwork from crafty people both from Chicago & nationwide.

Chicago’s Millennium Park will have an interesting addition to the cold weather beginning February 2008. Canadian artist Gordon Halloran has created a so called ‘ice-painting’, where color is infused with ice to create an interactive exhibition. Located behind Cloud Gate (or the Bean to locals), this work entitled, Paintings Below Zero, measures about 100 feet in length x 12 feet in height.

The intention is for this ice sculpture to interact with its surroundings – melting and changing with the temperatures – creating an new experience for viewers each time they stop by.

Nearby this structure is Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. Here Halloran will embed an abstract ice-painting inside the ice rink where skaters will glide atop the colorful artwork. One can image the colorful patterns revealed from each passing skate and the melting ice. This should truly be a unique and changing experience not to be missed. Viewing the sculpture is free as is the actual skating, but if you need to rent skates, its $9. Not bad to skate on the art!

Find out more about the Museum of Modern Ice at the official website here.
Or from the City of Chicago here.

Enjoy & stay warm!

Want to check out some Japanese art from the Edo period? The Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibit highlighting the Kabuki theater is on display from Dec. 15 to Feb. of 2008. More the 700 prints from the Katsukawa School of artists (c. mid-1760s to mid-1790s) show images of the famous performers in the Kabuki theater.

View more at the Art Institute of Chicago’s website.

After the New Year, check out the Museum of Contemporary Art for some Modern Japanese Art. Takashi Murakami: Jellyfish Eyes is open Jan. 6 to the end of the month. This exhibition is a wallpaper installation of a work that was acquired for the MCA. Jellyfish eyes covers a whole wall in the cafe at the Museum.

The MCA notes, “Murakami is one of the most significant artists of his generation to emerge from Japan. He is internationally recognized for his various curatorial projects, artworks, and mass-produced items, particularly those created with his studio and artists’ collective Kaikai Kiki. Murakami’s work blends east and west as well as fine art and design.” (See the whole article at the MCA here.)

Currently at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, you can see two beautiful exhibits highlighting Japanese artworks.
The focused “Drama and Desire: Japanese Paintings from the Floating World 1690–1850″ exhibit runs until December 16, 2007. Woodblock prints from Harunobu, Utamaro, and Hokusai are on display. The MFA’s collection of more than 700 ukiyo-e paintings has been noted by the Japanese press as one of the finest collections anywhere in the world. This is the first exhibition highlighting the MFAs collection of ukiyo-e. Check out the MFA’s website where you can find a postcast and online tour of the exhibtion.

Also the newly opened exhibit entitled “Arts of Japan: The John C. Weber Collection” runs through January 13, 2008. Stop by to see Dr. John C. Weber’s collection – one of the finest private collections outside of Japan. Nearly 80 works of scrolls, screens, textiles, ceramics and lacquerware will be on display. The exhibition draws a comparison between the Early Bostonians collection of Japanese artwork and Dr. Weber’s personal selection of artworks. According to the MFA’s website this exhibit is “the largest loan of its kind ever shown at the MFA, “Arts of Japan: The John C. Weber Collection” will give Bostonians the chance to experience aspects of classic Japanese art not usually accessible to American museum-goers.”

Want to take some of the museum home with you? Check out these websites where you can order some great Asian artworks and Asian inspired decor:
MFA’s Museum Shop
HomeMuseum.com
Floating World Gallery
The Art Institute of Chicago’s Museum Shop

For a limited time, the “Gates of Paradise” will be shown at the Art Institute of Chicago. If you are around, make plans to stop by sometime between July 28–October 14, 2007 to see one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance. And better yet, the exhibition is free with museum admission!

The “Gates of Paradise” which Ghiberti was commissioned to design in 1425 are renowned as a masterpiece of the Renaissance. The pair of bronze doors were designed for the Baptistery in Florence, Italy. Taking 27 years to complete, the gates became a masterpiece so much so, that even Michelangelo took note.

For the past 25 years, the gates have undergone much conservation. To mark this conclusion of the conservation efforts, three relief panels from the left wing of the Gates of Paradise and sections of the door’s frieze will be on display at the Art Institute. After the exhibition, the relief panels to will re-integrated with the rest of the gates and placed on permanent display at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence, and will never travel again.

Learn More about the Gates of Paradise and the exhibition by visiting the Art Institute of Chicago’s website. And check out the expanded version of the exhibition here.

As a big fan of Japanese art, especially woodblock prints, here is my list of places to see Japanese art and culture in Chicago. This is just a starting list, there are more places in Chicago to visit, so I will keep adding. In the meantime, read on for my highlights…

First up, of course, the Art Institute of Chicago. This is a great museum to see pretty much any kind of artwork in Chicago and its located right by Millenium Park. Definitely worth a visit. This Japanese collection is part of their Asian collection, which is comprised of works from China, Korea, India, southwest Asia, and the Near and Middle East, including Japan. The highlights of the Japanese art collection are the Japanese screens and paintings. Their collection of Japanese woodblock prints is one of the finest in the world, artists who’s work is in the collection include, Utagawa Hiroshige, Katsukawa Shunkô, Katsushika Hokusai, and Kitagawa Utamaro.

Next up, the Smart Museum of Art part of the University of Chicago and located on the Hyde Park, Chicago campus, this museum houses a beautiful permanent collection of artworks. They have a great collection of works on paper that range from the European Old Masters to Japanese woodblock prints. Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige are two of the well known artists who’s prints are represented in the collection.

Also, if you’ve got time, consider traveling to the Anderson Japanese Gardens. Located in Rockford, IL, its a bit of a way outside the city, but when in search of serene spaces, sometimes one must travel a bit further…The gardens are open May 1st – October 31st annually and it will cost you $6 for an adult. Check out the website for some beautiful pictures!

On your garden agenda should also be the Chicago Botanical Garden, which has a beautiful Japanese garden. The website will tell you what is in bloom and, take note, the gardens will be open till 9 pm during the summer, so check it out!

So, you’ve seen some Japanese art & experienced the beauty of the Japanese gardens and want to take home some art? Check out some of these websites and Chicago stores for your Japanese art and culture needs:
Aiko’s Art Materials Import – all kinds of handmade papers, books, and lots of cool stuff.

Green Tea Designs - Toronto, Canada based Asian furniture store, traditional furniture reapplied to contemporary means.

Plane Spoken – Chicago based furniture designer. Have your own shoji designed to fit your needs. Interesting website, but I haven’t had the chance to order anything yet!

HomeMuseum – Chicago based retailer of Japanese reproduction prints. High quality reproductions of famous Hokusai prints with more to come.

Walsh Gallery – Chicago gallery of contemporary Asian art.

Pagoda Red – Chicago gallery of Asian antiques located in Bucktown.

I’m always interested in learning other places to visit or purchase Japanese art, so let me know those favorite places I may have forgotten.

Looking for something different to do in Chicago this weekend? If you are into antiques or just like to be outside, the Chicago Antique Market is opening its 2007 season this weekend and will be open Saturday May 26th and Sunday May 27th. It seems like a great diverse market where you can search out all kinds of treasures…

Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. the event has both an indoor (w/ air conditioning!) and an European-style outdoor market. They will have around 150 antique dealers of housewares, furniture, vintage clothing, jewelry, silver, and much much more! There will also be the Indie Designer Fashion Market for those fashionistas interested in up and coming designers!

The market is located at 1300 W. Randolph at the Beaux Arts Plumbers Hall complex. There is a fee of $8 for admission (you can shop early – 7:30 am early for $20). And its pet friendly too.

Also, there a free trolly service from Watertower… check out the Chicago Antiques Market website for further info on the antiques dealers, admission, the trolly, and the events!

Visiting New York City any time soon? Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Make sure to check out the newly opened exhibition of “Impressionist and Early Modern Paintings: The Clark Brothers Collect.” This exhibition is on view through August 19th.

Not a long exhibition, but if you like Impressionist art, especially Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, their beautiful artworks will be displayed along with those of Cézanne, Seurat, Matisse, Picasso, Eakins, and Hopper. Over 65 masterpieces owned by Robert Sterling Clark and Stephen Carlton Clark will be at the Met and these works have never been displayed together! According to the Met’s website “The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the remarkable legacies of these two brothers, both heirs to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune and native New Yorkers, who played influential but ultimately divergent roles as patrons of the arts in the United States.”

The exhibition was a collaboration with the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This will be the first first dusk-to-dawn cultural and artistic event in the US. Inspired by “White Night” events in Montreal, Rome and Paris, the event will showcase more than 75 events throughout downtown Chicago. There will be musical, theater, indoor programs, outdoor exhibitions, architectural tours, art installations and light displays. There are events at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, Daley Plaza, Macy’s on State, Harold Washington College, Oscar Shorts at Gene Siskel Film Center, and many many more. Almost all of the events are free!

In the early morning hours there will be a Yoga class at 55 N. Michigan (5:30 am – 6:15 am)
Also at 55 N. Michigan, there’s breakfast by Whole Foods from 5:30 am – 6:30 am

Check out Looptopia and enjoy the free Chicago festivities!