Cardboard jungle: Art exhibit casts Chicago in paper

You may think cardboard can't be pretty, but the 70 artists taking part in "The Exquisite City" will make you think otherwise. Made almost entirely from the rough brown material, each piece in this special exhibit is a personal reflection of the artist and his or her relationship to the great city of Chicago.

Housed in the Chicago Tourism Center, even the archway to get into the exhibit is constructed from cardboard. Once inside, the floor is made to look like a road (complete with speed bumps), parking signs and train tracks line the perimeter, and an audio loop playing music and sounds recorded on Chicago streets completes the mini-city atmosphere. It doesn't matter which direction you go, just try not to miss anything - each piece is completely unique and worth a hard look.

The artists in this exhibit run the gamut from high school students to established professionals. However, perhaps the most famous name is not a visual artist but a musician: Neko Case, a singer-songwriter and member of The New Pornographers, crafted one of the most well-constructed pieces in the show. Her contribution, entitled "1871," is a black painted building with red and orange shiny paper extending literally to the ceiling, a representation of the Great Chicago Fire.

Other pieces are more whimsical in nature, like Susan Hall's adorable re-creation of the penguin house at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Pat Coleman, a "full-time carpenter, part-time artist and magnet for parking violation enforcement officers," pokes fun at Mayor Daley with his mock religious icon depicting the mayor with a halo made of bright orange parking ticket envelopes, a familiar sight to anyone with a car in Chicago.

Many of the works require closer inspection and a reading of the artist's statement to fully appreciate their meaning. Olivia Arduini imagined how a city block would look if it contained every building she's lived in from birth to the present. The homes with the most significance are bigger than the others, and they are arranged like a game board. She calls this piece "The Forwarding Address Game."

Vivienne Edmister expresses a similar sentiment with her piece, "The Place I Want to Live," which places an art deco diner next to a classic movie house next to an idyllic park. Other works honor specific neighborhoods where the artists grew up, where they live now, or simply where they like to hang out.

The intricate detailing on many of the pieces is what makes each one so unique. The submission from Lakeview High School art students features white rooms with silhouettes of people, depicting a different scene in each small box. Steve Badauskas, who runs Bernice's Tavern in Bridgeport, accented his towering sculpture with motorized moving parts.

If you want to take any of these works of art home with you, you better bring your checkbook: Pieces for sale range from $50 to $3,000, and one is jokingly listed for "1 gazillion rupees."

Luckily, more affordable opportunities to interact with the Exquisite City are available. A free diorama demonstration and workshop takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Reserve your spot by calling (312) 742-8497. At 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and March 7, stop into the exhibit for a free artist-led tour of the gallery. Or, come in any time between now and Sunday, March 15 (see sidebar for gallery hours) to experience the exhibit yourself.

While you're there

Where to eat and drink

• Elephant & Castle, 185 N. Wabash Ave., (312) 345-1710, elephantcastle. com: You can't go wrong with a restaurant whose slogan is "Bang On." Stop by this British pub for authentic English fare like shepherd's pie and bangers 'n' mash, and wash it down with a pint of Guinness, Smithwick's, or - for the truly brave - a shot of Jameson.

• Intelligentsia Coffee, 55 E. Randolph St., 312-920-9332, intelligentsiacoffee.com: Sure, Starbucks is around the corner, but try something new for a change at Intelligentsia Coffee. This small chain seeks out environmentally friendly and socially responsible growers from countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Peru and Sumatra. Warm up with a hot cup on your way home.

Things to see

• Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., 312-744-6630, chicagoculturalcenter.org: This landmark building hosts hundreds of exhibits and events every year, many of which are free and open to the public. Multiple art exhibits are currently on display, including "Hidden Treasures: The Lane Tech Murals," celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lane Tech Prep High School, and large-scale paintings by William Conger. Stop by on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday at 1:15 p.m. for a guided tour of this ornate building.

• Hot Tix, 72 E. Randolph St., hottix. org.: In the lobby of the Tourism Center is the Hot Tix booth, where you can find half-price tickets for plays all over the city and suburbs. Availability changes daily and includes well-known shows like Second City and Blue Man Group as well as some you may never hear of otherwise.