Opening ceremony
9:30 am. MCA plaza.
Big scissors, big ribbon, and big Chicago names.
Have a cupcake compliments of Swirlz and some yummy snacks from
Whole Foods.
Free tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Artists On-site: Rita Ackermann, Christian Marclay, and Peter Saville with Dominic Molon
1 pm. MCA Theater. Reserve your seat—call 312.397.4010 or visit mcachicago.org.
On the opening day of Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, artists Rita Ackermann and Christian Marclay and
designer Peter Saville discuss the intimate and inspired relationship between the visual arts and rock-and-roll culture with
moderator Dominic Molon, the exhibition’s curator. This talk
is part of People Who Shape Our World, the MCA series that brings you the most influential artists, writers, and thinkers of today.
Free tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Shop for the MCA.
Any Chicago Whole Foods store.
Today only — 5% of all purchases at any of the six Chicago Whole Foods Markets benefits the MCA. Supporting art is nutritious
and delicious. For store locations,
visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
Art in the ’60s tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Curator Conversation
Noon. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Curator Dominic Molon leads a tour of
Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 and talks about what motivated
him to create this groundbreaking exhibition.
Chicago Artists Month Opening Celebration
5:30 pm. Puck’s cafe.
October is Chicago Artists Month, and the MCA is hosting the kickoff party.
Enjoy cash bars while Volume Is Color, a Chicago band composed of artists and art professors, performs on the Anne and John
Kern Terrace.
Artist On-site: Deb Sokolow
6–8 pm. Robert B. and Beatrice C. Mayer Education Center lobby.
Watch former
12 x 12: New Artists/New Work artist Deb Sokolow create a work before your eyes. Sokolow will be available for
questions while she works. This event is part of Works in Progress, in which local artists develop works in the museum.
Artist On-site: Antonia Contro
7 pm. MCA Store.
Local artist Antonia Contro signs copies of Closed/Open, the commemorative volume for her exhibition at The Newberry Library.
The limited-edition book riffs on traditional natural-history illustrations and combines evocative installation shots with compelling
essays by contributors such as Theodore Pappas, Executive Editor at Encyclopedia Britannica.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. MCA Theater. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out
of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Curator Quickie Tour: Francesco Bonami
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Manilow Senior Curator at Large Francesco Bonami, known for curating the 50th Venice Biennale, leads a quick tour through the
galleries.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Star: Cynthia Rowley
6 pm. MCA Theater. Reserve your seat — call 312.397.4010 or visit
mcachicago.org.
Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley discusses the intersection of fashion and art and her new book Slim: A Fantasy Memoir,
accompanied by her original drawings. This talk is part of People Who Shape Our World, the MCA series that brings you the most
influential artists, writers, and thinkers of today.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Rock Star First Fridays
6–10 pm. Members $7, nonmembers $10, or $15 at the door — call 312.397.4010 or purchase tickets online.
Happy hour takes on a new meaning with free Wolfgang Puck appetizers, cash bars, and fresh art. Preview the latest UBS 12 x 12:
New Artists/New Work exhibition, featuring the work of Philip von Zweck. This month don’t miss
the deejay stylings of Frankie Orrall from Poi Dog Pondering set to video work
by Marco Ferrari.
Outdoor yoga
8:30–10 am. Sculpture garden. Enter through the back gates.
Esteemed yogi Steve Nakon leads a free outdoor stretch, perfect for those preparing for Sunday’s marathon or for folks who like to
ease into the morning with stunning lake views and artful backdrops. Puck’s will provide free OJ
and muffins at 10 am for all participants. This event will be cancelled if it rains.
Free tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Screen Printing Rockin’ Tote Bags
1–4 pm. Studios. Members $40, nonmembers $45 — call 312.397.4010 or register online.
Tote bags are all the rage, and artist Kelly Breslin will help you screen print yours. This event is part of Saturday Shorts, our series
of one-day workshops.
Art Star: Todd Oldham
2 pm. MCA Store.
Fashion designer and author Todd Oldham signs copies of Charley Harper:
An Illustrated Life. In 2001 Oldham rediscovered Harper’s work — known for its
graphic and often humorous illustrations of nature and people — and collaborated closely with him, combing through his
extensive archive to design this dazzlingly definitive collection. Harper’s death in June 2007 at age 84 makes this first complete
retrospective even more remarkable. Oldham also signs Handmade Modern: Mid-century Inspired Projects for Your Home, a retro
DIY guide to redesigning your living space.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
In homage to the early beginnings of the MCA, Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores how art
and food intersected in the late 1960s.
Art in the ’60s tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Outdoor rock concert
1–6 pm. MCA plaza.
Intonation Music Festival and the MCA present Rock/Art, featuring a varied lineup of independent bands. Don’t miss
Flosstradamus with the Cool Kids, Califone, Poster Children, the 1900s, the Eternals, and Headache City.
Art in the ’70s tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Bingo Tango with Lewis Manilow
6–8 pm. Puck’s cafe. No tickets are required — seats are limited.
The MCA adds an interesting twist to bingo by integrating quirky art and tango. Founding MCA trustee and noted collector Lewis
Manilow hosts the event.Professional dance instructors teach the tango between games.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. MCA Theater. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out
of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
The MCA Green Team welcomes Whole Foods Market to the MCA to show many different ways to take responsibility
for our impact on the Earth. Get started on your own green path and ask the Whole Foods Market attendant for tips
on using recyclable tote bags to cleaning with green products, and any other questions you may have about green living.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Studio class: Screens, Doug, and Rock and Roll
6–9 pm. Wednesdays, October 10–November 14. Members $220, nonmembers $240 — call 312.397.4010 or register online.
Back by popular demand, we are pleased to offer screen printing with artist
and designer Doug Gapinski but this time with a rock-and-roll spin. Tour
Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967
to find inspiration for
your own screen-printed T-shirt or a cool poster honoring your favorite band.
Two sessions take place at the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative.
Curator Quickie Tour: Tricia Van Eck
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Curatorial Coordinator and Curator of Artists’ Books Tricia Van Eck, curator of the upcoming
Mapping the Self exhibition (opening
Saturday, November 3) in conjunction with Chicago’s first citywide Festival of Maps, leads a quick tour through the galleries.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Studio class: So, What the Hell Is Contemporary Art?
6–9 pm. Thursdays, October 11–November 15. Members $220, nonmembers $240 — call 312.397.4010 or register online.
Curious about contemporary art but not sure where to start? Learn about themes in contemporary art while you play with different
techniques. The class, taught by artist Tara Strickstein, combines visits with curators and artists, tours of the MCA Collection, and
studio projects.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Family Day: 40 Years Young
11 am–3 pm
Join the MCA, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, and the National Museum of Mexican Art, along with our friends at Target for hands-on activities, a scavenger hunt, family tours, and prizes. Family Day at the MCA takes place every second Saturday of the month.
Free tours
Noon, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Stars: Rick Kogan and Russell Lewis with Victoria Lautman
1 pm. Gallery talk. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
For a look back at MCA and Chicago history, hear local culture and history experts Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune and Russell
Lewis, Chief Historian at the Chicago History Museum. This talk is moderated by Victoria Lautman, producer and host of the
interview series Writers on the Record with Victoria Lautman, which is heard on WFMT and appears in Chicago magazine. They will
explore Record Times: 40 Years from the MCA Archive as well as Collection Highlights, probing the many firsts in Chicago’s art scene
during the past 40 years. This event is part
of MCA as Muse, a series of gallery talks in which artists, celebrities, designers, and other friends of the museum contemplate
what inspires them at the MCA.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores
how art and food intersected in the 1970s.
Art in the ’70s tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Art in the ’80s tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Artist On-site: Philip von Zweck
6:30 pm. Gallery talk. McCormick Tribune Gallery.
Don’t miss this artist’s talk with October’s UBS 12 x 12: New Artists/New Work artist Philip von Zweck. Instead of filling the gallery
with objects, von Zweck creates a democratic experience for his project Post. While his work uses the postal system, visitors can
participate in the gallery.
Artists On-site: Audrey Niffenegger and T3
6:30–8 pm. Puck’s cafe. No tickets are required — seats are limited.
Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife, shares her tales of
humor and intrigue at this reading hosted by author and poet Cassie Sparkman. T3 shares the bill.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. MCA Theater. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
The MCA Green Team welcomes Whole Foods Market to the MCA to show many different ways to take responsibility
for our impact on the Earth. Get started on your own green path and ask the Whole Foods Market attendant for tips
on using recyclable tote bags to cleaning with green products, and any other questions you may have about green living.
Free tour
1 pm.
Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Curator Quickie Tour: Elizabeth Smith
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator and Deputy Director of Programs Elizabeth Smith, known for organizing the celebrated 2004 exhibition Lee Bontecou:
A Retrospective, leads a quick tour through the galleries.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Free tours
Noon, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Stars: Judy Ledgerwood, Tony Tasset, and Anne Wilson with Judith Kirshner
1 pm. Gallery talk. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Renowned artists Judy Ledgerwood, Tony Tasset, and Anne Wilson discuss their favorite works in the MCA Collection with Judith
Kirshner, Dean of the College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois-Chicago and former MCA curator. This event is part of MCA as Muse, a series of gallery talks in which artists, celebrities, designers, and other friends of the museum contemplate what inspires them at the MCA.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores how art and food intersected in the 1980s.
Art in the ’80s tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Art in the ’90s tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Artist On-site: Stitch ’n’ Bitch with Paté Conaway
5:30–8 pm. Puck’s cafe. Drop in anytime — seats are limited.
Stitch ’n’ Bitch brings knitters of all skill levels together to sit, sip, and relax. Paté Conaway, who knitted 3 1/2-foot long mittens for his 12 x 12: New Artists/New Work project, appears at this installment.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. Kanter Meeting Center. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
The MCA Green Team welcomes Whole Foods Market to the MCA to show many different ways to take responsibility
for our impact on the Earth. Get started on your own green path and ask the Whole Foods Market attendant for tips
on using recyclable tote bags to cleaning with green products, and any other questions you may have about green living.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Curator Quickie Tour: Julie Rodrigues Widholm
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Pamela Alper Associate Curator Julie Rodrigues Widholm, known for the fascinating exhibition
Escultura Social: A New Generation of Art from Mexico City, leads a quick tour through the galleries.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Performance: Diamanda Galás, Songs of Exile
7:30 pm. MCA Theater. Members $19, nonmembers $24 — call 312.397.4010 or purchase tickets online.
For Songs of Exile, legendary chanteuse Diamanda Galás sets the poems of writers and artists living outside of their homelands to haunting piano solos.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. MCA Store. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Family event: Animation Station
10:30 am–1:30 pm. For tickets, call 312.494.9509 or visit www.chfestival.org.
Learn pixilation and Claymation and watch animated shorts in the theater.
This event is part of the Children’s Humanities Festival.
Free tours
Noon, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Artists Up Close in the MCA Store: Terri Logan, Ping Wu, Brian Schultz,
Sarah Steedman, and Wendy Stevens
1–4 pm. MCA Store. Drop in anytime.
During this special trunk show, chat with Terri Logan, a jewelry designer who
uses river stones and sterling silver; Ping Wu, an emerging Chicago artist who knits creative multipurpose accessories; Brian
Schultz, an innovative belt designer; Sarah Steedman, who makes Scrappy Nation Dolls from recycled clothing; and Wendy Stevens, a designer of stainless-steel handbags. The MCA Store is the first to introduce Ping Wu’s designs, which are sold here exclusively.
Art Stars: Ken Fandell, Laura Letinsky, and Laura Mosquera with Ruth Lopez and LeeAnn Trotter
1 pm. Gallery talk. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Time Out Chicago art critic Ruth Lopez and NBC 5’s LeeAnn Trotter host Contemporary Art’s New Faces, a discussion with Ken Fandell, Laura Letinsky, and Laura Mosquera, part of the new generation of artists in the MCA Collection. Together they discuss
current art trends using works from the collection. This event is part of MCA as Muse, a series of gallery talks in which artists, celebrities, designers, and other friends of the museum contemplate what inspires them at the MCA.
Performance: Diamanda Galás, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty
7:30 pm. MCA Theater. Members $24, nonmembers $28 — call 312.397.4010
or purchase tickets online.
For
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, legendary chanteuse Diamanda Galás reinterprets bittersweet songs of love and death, including those made famous by Johnny Cash, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and Hank Williams.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores how art and food intersected in the 1990s.
Art in the ’90s tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Family event: HOWLoween Dog Parade
1–3 pm. Sculpture garden.
This special dog day afternoon includes a pet costume contest, free dog snacks, and doggie games. Kids can rock out with the Banana Bunch Band. Enter through the back gate if bringing a dog. The event will be cancelled if it rains.
Art in the New Millennium tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Artist On-site: Kim Schoenstadt
4–7 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
As part of
Mapping the Self, Kim Schoenstadt is creating a wall drawing of
the city’s changing environment and architecture, overlaid by a map of a walk
she used to make every day.
Artists On-site: Sustainable Building in Chicago
6 pm. MCA Theater. For tickets, call 312.494.9509 or visit www.chfestival.org.
This discussion is moderated by University of Illinois-Chicago professor
and acclaimed architect Elva Rubio. This event is part of the Chicago
Humanities Festival.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. MCA Theater. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
The MCA Green Team welcomes Whole Foods Market to the MCA to show many different ways to take responsibility
for our impact on the Earth. Get started on your own green path and ask the Whole Foods Market attendant for tips
on using recyclable tote bags to cleaning with green products, and any other questions you may have about green living.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Curator Quickie Tour: Lynne Warren
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Curator Lynne Warren, known for the substantive exhibition Art in Chicago,
1945–1995, leads a quick tour through the galleries.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Star First Fridays
6–10 pm. Members $7, nonmembers $10, or $15 at the door — call 312.397.4010 or purchase tickets online.
Happy hour takes on a new meaning with free Wolfgang Puck appetizers, cash
bars, and fresh art. Preview the latest UBS
12 x 12: New Artists/New Work exhibition, featuring the work of Cody Hudson. Don’t
miss the world’s only iMac G5 digital dating bar, plus a photo booth, DJs, art-making, and more.
Free tours
Noon, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Stars: Jim DeRogatis, John Phillips, and Melanie Schiff with Anthony Elms
1 pm. Gallery talk. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
For this Art and Rock and Roll tour, guided by artist and music afficionado Anthony Elms, NPR’s
Sound Opinions host Jim DeRogatis, and artists John Phillips and Melanie Schiff enlighten visitors about some of the works and trends presented in
Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967. This event is part of MCA as Muse, a series in which artists, celebrities,
designers, and other friends of the museum contemplate what inspires them at the MCA.
Performance: Complaints Choir
1 and 3 pm. MCA Theater. Reserve your seat — call 312-494-9509
or visit chfestival.org.
Complainers of the world, unite! Complaints Choir, started by two artists in
Finland, channels complaining into a positive, transformative release. Complaints from all over the Chicago area will form the
lyrics of a new work to be performed by an all-volunteer choir that anyone can join. This program is coproduced with Smog Veil
Records and is presented with the Chicago Humanities Festival. For more information, visit
complaintschoir.org/chicago.
Shrinky Dinks and Other Nostalgia
1–4 pm. Studios. Members $40, nonmembers $45 — call 312.397.4010 or register online.
As the MCA celebrates its 40th anniversary, artist Tara Strickstein helps us
look back at some of our favorite arts and crafts like making shrinky
dinks and suncatchers. This event is part of Saturday Shorts, our series
of one-day workshops.
Artist On-site: Barbara Koenen
3–5 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
As part of
Mapping the Self, Barbara Koenen is creating the work
BaluchiDrixa,
an Afghan war rug, which refers to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Artists On-site: Framed Heights
4–5 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
Come watch as art is created. John Baldessari’s installation
Framed Heights, in which silver frames are placed on the wall to map
the heights of Chicago artists, is a work in
Mapping the Self, the MCA exhibition presented in conjunction with the city’s Festival of Maps.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores how art and food intersect in the new millennium in homage to the MCA’s present and future.
Art in the New Millennium tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Each week during the 40 free days, our talented guides explain the trends and ideas of a different decade of contemporary art.
Performance: Bernard Sahlins, T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land staged reading
2 and 7 pm. MCA Theater. For tickets, call 312.494.9509 or visit chfestival.org.
This five-part journey through a fragmented landscape of scenes and voices is brought to you by a cast of leading Chicago actors, including Nicholas Rudall, under the skilled direction of Bernard Sahlins. This event is presented with the Chicago Humanities
Festival and The Poetry Foundation.
Chicago-Based Works tours
11:30 am, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides explain the trends and ideas behind the art of Chicago.
Artist On-site: Barbara Koenen
1–3 pm and 5–8 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
As part of
Mapping the Self, Barbara Koenen is creating the work
BaluchiDrixa,
an Afghan war rug, which refers to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
This program is part of Works in Progress, in which local artists develop works
in the museum.
Artists On-site: Magical Musical Showcase
6:30–8 pm. Puck’s cafe. No tickets are required — seats are limited.
Chicago’s most renowned clubs present their favorite local singer-songwriters in
this monthly series. The hour-long set provides an opportunity for emerging musicians to present original work. This event is
cohosted with the Empty Bottle.
Artists On-site: Creative Re-use and Design
7 pm. MCA Theater. For tickets, call 312.494.9509 or visit www.chfestival.org.
Sara Black of the artist collective Material Exchange; Cat Chow, fashion designer and artist; Kevin Henry, curator of the recent DIY exhibition
Pass It On! at Columbia College Chicago’s A & D Gallery; and Lane Relyea, an assistant professor at Northwestern University, discuss how reusing materials creatively can have a political and economic impact. This event is moderated by
Shoshana Berger, Editor-in-Chief of
Readymade magazine, and is part of the Chicago Humanities Festival. After the talk, participants can make art in a workshop led by Berger.
Green Screens film series
10 am–5 pm. MCA Theater. Drop in anytime.
The MCA Green Team, the dedicated group of individuals who help make the MCA more environmentally friendly, is coming out of the woodwork and using the art of film to inspire.
The MCA Green Team welcomes Whole Foods Market to the MCA to show many different ways to take responsibility
for our impact on the Earth. Get started on your own green path and ask the Whole Foods Market attendant for tips
on using recyclable tote bags to cleaning with green products, and any other questions you may have about green living.
Artist On-site: Barbara Koenen
1–3 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
As part of
Mapping the Self, Barbara Koenen is creating the work
BaluchiDrixa,
an Afghan war rug, which refers to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Curator Quickie Tour: Dominic Molon
11:30 am. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Curator Dominic Molon, who organized Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, leads a quick tour through the galleries.
Artist On-site: Barbara Koenen
1–3 pm. Fourth-floor atrium.
As part of Mapping the Self, Barbara Koenen is creating the work BaluchiDrixa,
an Afghan war rug, which refers to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Fantastic Fridays in the MCA Store
10 am–6 pm. No purchase is necessary. Winners need not be present to win.
During any day of the week, enter to win each week’s drawing. Every Fantastic Friday, winning names will be drawn at random.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Family Day: When I Grow Up
11 am–3 pm
The MCA and the Children’s Humanities Festival team up to bring you art-making, performances, and more. Plus, the sketch comedy group Barrel of Monkeys performs in our theater. Catch our family tours, scavenger hunt,
a special performance by the River North Dance Company, and a raffle.
Family Day at the MCA takes place every second Saturday of the month.
Free tours
Noon, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Art Stars: Kelli Connell, Jeanne Dunning, and Ben Gest with Karen Irvine
1 pm. Gallery talks. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
In the talk A Photographic Snapshot, Karen Irvine, Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, leads photographers Kelli Connell, Jeanne Dunning, and Ben Gest in an exploration of the medium while they also comment on photographs from the MCA’s collection. This event is part of MCA as Muse, a series in which artists, celebrities, designers, and other friends of the
museum contemplate what inspires them at the MCA.
Artist On-site: Executive Chef Steven Harty
11 am–3 pm. Puck’s cafe. Reservations are encouraged — call 312.397.4034.
Puck’s Executive Chef Steven Harty creates a themed brunch that explores how art and food intersect in the new millennium in homage to the MCA’s present and future.
Chicago-Based Works tours
Noon, 1, 2, and 3 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides explain the trends and ideas behind the art of Chicago.
Members’ Double Discount Days begin.
Members receive double discounts in the MCA Store through Sunday, November 18.
Free tours
11:30, 1, and 6 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
Bingo Tango
6–8 pm. Puck’s cafe. No tickets are required — seats are limited.
The MCA adds an interesting twist to bingo by integrating both quirky art and tango. Professional dance instructors teach the tango between games.
Artist On-site: Paul Budnitz/Kidrobot
6 pm. MCA Theater. Reserve your seat — call 312.397.4010 or register online.
Paul Budnitz, designer and founder of the premier retailer of art toys and apparel
Kidrobot, discusses his collaborations with artists to create art objects. Budnitz will sign
I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion immediately following the talk.
Free tour
1 pm. Meet at the main-floor admission desk.
Our talented guides lead tours through the current exhibitions to reveal the stories behind the art and artists.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
