February 3, 2012—International art fair NEXT ART CHICAGO announced January 5 that SAIC President Walter Massey and Executive Director of Exhibitions Mary Jane Jacob have been selected for the fair’s Host Committee, further adding to SAIC’s spreading influence at this year’s fair. SAIC Painting and Drawing faculty members Michelle Grabner, Jose Lerma, Jim Lutes, and Richard Rezac will join Anne Wilson (Fiber and Material Studies), Joseph Grigely (Art History, Theory, and Criticism), and SAIC alumni Judy Ledgerwood (BFA 1984) and Tony Tassett (MFA 1985) in Exclusive, a new exhibition organized for the first time this year.
Join us on Facebook | 
Follow us on Twitter | 
RSS Feed
February 2, 2012—SAIC alumna So Yong Kim (BFA 1994, MFA 1996) premiered her latest film, For Ellen, at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21 according to the Los Angeles Times, which published a 24 Frames interview with Kim on January 25. Contributor Kenneth Turan notes, “What unites ‘For Ellen’ with Kim’s earlier films is its focus on family, which stems from her own background.” Kim says in the interview that she went to SAIC determined to be an artist, “But a professor told me I was a horrible painter… I had to do something else with my life, and I started doing multimedia and experimental videos.” The article also notes that Kim met her husband and fellow director Bradley Rust Gray (BFA 1993) during her SAIC years.
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
February 1, 2012—Art in America reported January 23 that SAIC alumna Ruba Katrib (BFA 2004) has been named curator of New York’s SculptureCenter effective February 15. Associated Editor Stephanie Cash notes that Katrib co-founded local residency/exhibition space threewalls during her time at SAIC. Among many recent achievements, Katrib organized the first US museum survey of Brooklyn-based artists and Conversations at the Edge alumnus Cory Arcangel last year at MOCA North Miami. Currently, she is also co-organizing a conference about curatorial practice to take place this summer at the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, where she received her master’s degree.
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
January 31, 2012—SAIC faculty members Phyllis Bramson (Painting and Drawing) and Anne Wilson (Fiber and Material Studies) were inducted into the Distinguished Artist Program of the Union League Club of Chicago at the 2012 Beaux-Arts Celebration held on Friday, January 20. Established in 1997 to honor Chicago-based artists, the biennial award recognizes contributions to the “cultural well-being and world-class status” of Chicago’s arts community.
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
January 30, 2012—SAIC alumni Petra Bachmaier (BFA 1999) and Sean Gallero (SAIC 1993–98), collaborating as Luftwerk, will conduct Millennium Park’s first-ever, site-specific video and sound installation Luminous Field, February 10–20. The duo will transform Millennium Park into “a digital canvas of light and geometrical form” Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00–10:00 p.m., and Sunday–Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. According to Explore Chicago, the installation will illuminate Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate and its surrounding AT&T Plaza with “dramatic images and colors” set to music composed by Owen Clayton Condon of local avant-garde ensemble Third Coast Percussion. The artists will participate in a talk moderated by Sound department faculty member Lou Mallozzi in a heated tent on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
 You’ve Been Trumped! at the Gene Siskel Film Center |
January 28, 2012—Popular talk show host Rosie O’Donnell moderated a Q&A session at SAIC’s Gene Siskel Film Center (GSFC) on Friday, January 20. After the Chicago premiere screening of You’ve Been Trumped, a look at Donald Trump’s controversial golf course construction project in Scotland, O’Donnell spoke with director Anthony Baxter. The film was chosen as Chicago magazine’s (circ. 151,465) #1 thing to do this week in the January 18 edition of the Chicago Guide, and Baxter was interviewed live on WGN 720 AM’s morning show by host Jonathon Brandmeier on January 19. The film was presented during the GSFC’s annual Stranger Than Fiction documentary festival. |
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
Crain’s Chicago Business (circ. 45,702) published its 2012 social datebook in its December 26 issue. SAIC’s THE WALK 2012 earned a prominent mention, including a photo on page 17A of SAIC senior Macie Francis (BFA 2012) receiving the $25,000 Ikram and Joshua Goldman Scholarship. The January issue of CS magazine (circ. 79,570) also mentioned THE WALK 2012 in its year-end reviews of the biggest events on Chicago’s philanthropy calendar. THE WALK guests Neil Zucker, Desiree Rogers, and Amy Tara Koch are pictured in CS‘s “Best Fetes” spread.
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
 Writing department Chair Sara Levine |
January 26, 2012—Chicago magazine’s staff blog The 312 featured Writing department Chair Sara Levine in a January 16 post by contributor Jennifer Swann. In the story’s interview, Levine talks about how she reconciled her growing interest in fiction and her teaching job in nonfiction by employing what she calls “essayism:” “I said I would try to fuse the speed of boy adventure books which were really alien to me, in a good way… [with] a much slower, dilatory essayistic voice, where you analyze, you go around your subject, you try to turn it.” Published in December 2011, Levine’s novel has already been reviewed in the New York Times, LA Times, and Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. |
Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | RSS Feed
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers nationally accredited undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to nearly 3,200 students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a multidisciplinary approach to art and design, giving students unparalleled opportunities to develop their creative and critical abilities, while working with renowned faculty who include many of the leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its new Modern Wing; numerous special collections and programming venues provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances.
Ann Wiens
312.499.4214 (office)
312.560.9780 (cell)
awiens@saic.edu
John Eding
312.499.4211 (office)
jeding@saic.edu
© 2011 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 37 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60603
Admissions Office: 312 629-6100, admiss@saic.edu | Questions? Contact us | Credits | Site terms and conditions