UPDATE: Art on theMART's spring programming has been postponed due to coronavirus. This post will be updated when a new launch date is announced.
Beginning on April 1, you'll be able to watch the gigantic riverfront facade of theMART building (a.k.a. Merchandise Mart) transform into a 2.5-acre canvas for nightly, hour-long projection shows when Art on theMART returns from its winter slumber.
Art on theMART's spring programming kicks off with moving projections of the French impressionist artist Claude Monet's paintings, including a selection from his famous Water Lilies series, in conjunction with the Art Institute's upcoming exhibition exploring the artist's connection to Chicago. Also debuting in April is "City Circle Heart," a series of projections that animate the work of artists impacted by developmental disabilities, curated by visual arts non-profit Arts of Life.
In May, Art on theMART will partner with Adler Planetarium for "Astrographics," a sure-to-be-trippy projection visualizing the universe in four parts, "Earth," "Other Worlds," "Stars" and "Beyond," with images sourced from telescopes from across the world. The celestial images will be accompanied by Afrofuturistic free jazz from the Sun Ra archives, curated by the Experimental Sound Studio.
After debuting on April 1, Art on theMart runs through the end of the year, with hour-long shows beginning at 8:30pm from April 1–May 31, at 9pm from June 1–August 31, and at 8:30pm from September 1–December 31. You'll want to find a spot across the river (on the Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin) to get the best views of the display.