April 2018 events calendar for Chicago

In 1989, acclaimed artist Keith Haring came to Chicago to create a gigantic 488-foot-long mural in collaboration with 500 Chicago Public School students. After remaining on display at Midway Airport for several years, 36 panels of the mural will return to the Loop, going on display alongside a selection of Haring's photographs, correspondence, designs and his now-iconic drawings.

Whether players are shooting aliens or mowing down soldiers, violence and video games go hand in hand, which is why the latter is often used as a scapegoat for real-world occurrences of the former. The Video Game Art Gallery presents an exhibition that unpacks the aestheticization of violence in games, showing how artists and developers use weaponry and combat in brutal, beautiful and meaningful ways.

Abstract artist Helen Frankenthaler is best known for her bold canvases, on which she employed her "soak stain" technique to create translucent splashes of color. However, "The Romance of a New Medium" focuses on her lesser-known work as a print artist, which shrinks her abstract process down in size through the use of lithography, wood cutting and etching. The Art Institute displays a nearly complete collection of more than 50 of her prints, which—true to its name—exhibits Frankenthaler's enthusiasm for a new set of artistic tools. 

English designer Max Lamb has created designs for more than 400 seats during his relatively young career, using a variety of materials to fabricate chairs, stools and benches that balance form and function. "Exercises in Seating" collects some of his most ambitious and understated designs, presented alongside photographs, maquettes, tools and videos that illustrate how they were made. If you want to see even more chairs on display, make sure you check out "The Art of Seating" at the Driehaus Museum.

Chicago-based painter Anna Kunz explores the properties of color and light through this installation at the Hyde Park Art Center. Combining screens, paintings, fabrics and sound, the work immerses viewers in a vibrant spectrum of hues that can be experienced from various perspectives in the gallery.

The Intuit presents a survey of outsider art originating from Wisconsin in “To Be Seen and Heard,” which collect work from Prophet William J. Blackmon, Josephus Farmer, Simon Sparrow, Albert Zahn and Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. Made up of more than 50 paintings, photographs, sculptures and reliefs, the exhibit features signs and religious imagery by Blackmon, Zahn's intricate carvings and photographs by Bruenchenhein.

The Afro-futurist movement seeks to redefine the black experience in popular culture, through films like Black Panther and the music of free jazz artist Sun Ra that depict alternative visions of the future. “In Their Own Form” presents a collection of photos that are inspired by the Afro-futurist aesthetic, envisioning a world where racism and oppression have been eradicated, giving black individuals to create a new culture that is not bound by the past.

Whether subtle or overt, most advertisements contain messages that go beyond the desire to sell a product. Hank Willis Thomas has spent the majority of his career sifting through archives of vintage ads and digitally stripping away the text, uncovering imagery that was targeted at African Americans and women that sought to influence the ways in which consumers view race and gender. Devoid of context, brands and slogans, Thomas uses the illustrations and photographs contained within these advertisements to examine the impact of mass communication.

Shanghai artist Xu Longsen presents a collection of his large-scale landscape paintings, made using traditional tools and materials. His interpretations of Chinese vistas draw on techniques that date back to the 10th century and are presented on gigantic 30-foot canvases. The "Light of Heaven" installation was created for the Art Institute, presenting his ink-wash drawings on a set of pillars within the museum.

The latest exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Art's Chicago Works series highlights the work of local artist Paul Heyer, who presents a selection of paintings and sculptures inspired by LGBTQ club culture. Pastel hues and surreal imagery accompanied by a soundtrack inspired by YouTube ASMR videos create a psychedelic, dream-like space that emulates the hallucinogenic quality of a drug-addled evening on the dance floor.

In 1989, acclaimed artist Keith Haring came to Chicago to create a gigantic 488-foot-long mural in collaboration with 500 Chicago Public School students. After remaining on display at Midway Airport for several years, 36 panels of the mural will return to the Loop, going on display alongside a selection of Haring's photographs, correspondence, designs and his now-iconic drawings.

Chicago-based painter Anna Kunz explores the properties of color and light through this installation at the Hyde Park Art Center. Combining screens, paintings, fabrics and sound, the work immerses viewers in a vibrant spectrum of hues that can be experienced from various perspectives in the gallery.

The Afro-futurist movement seeks to redefine the black experience in popular culture, through films like Black Panther and the music of free jazz artist Sun Ra that depict alternative visions of the future. “In Their Own Form” presents a collection of photos that are inspired by the Afro-futurist aesthetic, envisioning a world where racism and oppression have been eradicated, giving black individuals to create a new culture that is not bound by the past.

On the second Friday of each month, The Chicago Arts District hosts 2nd Fridays Gallery Night, a series of receptions at the galleries and artists' studios centered around South Halsted Street, beginning at 1711 and ending at 2005 South Halsted Street. Pick up a map at the information center at 1945 South Halsted Street and visit the creative spaces free of charge as they open their doors to showcase an exciting display of art and artists from Chicago and beyond.

Whether subtle or overt, most advertisements contain messages that go beyond the desire to sell a product. Hank Willis Thomas has spent the majority of his career sifting through archives of vintage ads and digitally stripping away the text, uncovering imagery that was targeted at African Americans and women, influencing the ways in which consumers view race and gender. Devoid of context, brands and slogans, Thomas uses the illustrations and photographs contained within these advertisements to examine the impact of mass communication.