Elmhurst History Museum's 'Griffin' exhibit enters home stretch
Chicago's rich history is closely entwined with its visionary architects.
One of those pioneers, however, has yet to become a household name in a place that puts its architects on pedestals: Marion Mahony Griffin.
The Elmhurst History Museum's current exhibit, "In Her Own Right: Marion Mahony Griffin," aims to change that.
The exhibit is in its final weeks of a six-month run, so time is running out to explore the life and pioneering work of an extraordinary woman who was one of Frank Lloyd Wright's first employees and the first registered female architect in Illinois.
"In Her Own Right" traces Mahony Griffin's early life, her personal and professional partnership with her husband (Walter Burley Griffin) on three continents, her final years in Chicago, where she died in relative obscurity - and considers the legacy of a Chicagoan of immense but often overlooked importance.
The exhibit is open through March 12 at the museum at 120 E. Park Ave. Exhibit hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. General admission is free, and limited free parking is available.
To close out the final weeks of "In Her Own Right," the museum has two programs on the schedule related to the exhibit.
On Friday, March 3, families can explore Mahony Griffin's love of nature and her belief in the power of fairies to help children expand their imaginations during a School's Out Workshop. Kids and caregivers will participate together to make Fairy Garden Jars that children can use to capture fairies at home.
The cost is $10 per adult/child pair for members and $5 for each additional child; the nonmember fee is $15 per adult/child pair and $7 per additional child. Registration is online at www.elmhursthistory.org in the Family Programs section or at http://bpt.me/2844123.
The program takes place at 1 p.m. in the museum's Education Center.
In addition, a rare opportunity to view Marion's hand-painted murals, "Fairies Feeding the Herons" and "Father Heron Feeding the Fish," will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, when they will be open to the public at George B. Armstrong International Elementary School, 2110 Greenleaf Ave., in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
Mahony Griffin created the paintings inside the school where her sister was an art teacher in 1931 during an extended visit to her nearby Evanston family home.
Incorporating themes of imagination, creativity and love of nature, Marion delighted students by standing upon a table to paint while discussing her work, fairies and other magical beings.
The open house is presented by members of the Walter Burley Griffin Society and no reservations are required. Admission is free, and donations to the Armstrong School's mural preservation fund are welcome.
For the latest exhibit and program information, visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.