School of the Art Institute's Sullivan Galleries offer the unexpected
If you're in the mood for an art museum but don't want to shell out the money for the Art Institute or the Museum of Contemporary Art, look no further than Sullivan Galleries, the newest gallery of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Located in the former Carson Pirie Scott building on State Street in Chicago, the gallery also provides an escape from the hoards of holiday shoppers outside.
Named for the building's famous architect Louis Sullivan, the galleries house an array of artwork from students, faculty and other artists in every medium imaginable. The entrance is currently under scaffolding and not marked on the outside other than the street address, so keep your eyes peeled or you might miss it. Sign in with the doorman in the lobby and take the elevator up to the seventh floor to the huge, bare-bones space that looks like it may be under construction itself.
The best way to approach this gallery is to expect the unexpected. Contemporary art is often strange and hard to comprehend for the average person, and the work here will give you plenty to ponder. For example, the front room currently features bags of rocks on the floor with celebrities' faces on them. Does this mean the celebs featured are dumb as rocks, or is that interpretation too literal? Only the artist knows for sure.
Another oddity is in one of the small rooms within the gallery, where artist Bea Cleveland created a scene reminiscent of the '80s flick "Heathers," with a glass desk, candles and clear tarp splattered with red paint and punk music playing in the background, evoking a possible murder/suicide scenario. Luckily, other pieces in the gallery are much less depressing, like Evita Flores' colorful painting of the world's most famous Donald titled "I Heart Trump."
Like any art museum, a fact tag with the artist's name and title of the work identifies each piece. Many of the artists also have a business card or postcard accompanying their work in case prospective buyers want to get in touch or attend their opening.
Playing off the building's former occupant is the "Department (Store)" exhibit, a collection of more than 100 display cases filled with whatever the artist desired. Some cases feature a single object, such as a large cleaver, and others are assortments of various elements, including Happy Meal toys, tea cups hanging from strings, empty pill bottles and prescriptions, and sheets and pillows arranged like an unmade bed. Again, each case is open to interpretation and offers a window into the unique mind of the artist.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, multiple new exhibits are scheduled to open, including "New Work" by current students; "No End in Sight," a multimedia exhibition from the school's curatorial practice class; "Opto-Mystic," a video installation; and "Text Off the Page," featuring pieces that used text as inspiration. The opening reception for each of these exhibits takes place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, and a collaborative reading event in conjunction with "Text Off the Page" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. The new exhibits will be open until Jan. 10.
If you'd like to see more of what SAIC has to offer, visit the Rymer Gallery (280 S. Columbus Drive) and the Student Union Galleries (37 S. Wabash St. and 280 S. Columbus Drive.). A pseudo documentary about funeral directors by Omer Fast is playing through Jan. 3 at the Rymer Gallery.
Sullivan Galleries (part of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago)
Facts: 33 S. State St., seventh floor, Chicago, saic.edu/ art_design/galleries
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Admission: Free
While you're there
Where to eat
• Atwood Cafe, 1 W. Washington St., Chicago, (312) 368-1900, atwoodcafe.com: In the heart of the downtown shopping district, Atwood Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is the perfect place to stop between stores. Prices are affordable for the area, too, with most dinner entrees in the $20 range.
The Gage Restaurant & Tavern, 24 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, (312) 372-4243, thegagechicago.com: Named one of the year's best new restaurants by Chicago Magazine, The Gage menu dares you to try new things like antelope tartare, roasted saddle of elk and goat cheese risotto.
Things to do
• Macy's, 111 N. State St., Chicago, (312) 578-8629, visitmacyschicago.com: It can't compare to the original Marshall Field's, but Macy's on State Street continues the store's holiday traditions with animated window displays and the 45-foot Great Tree in the center of the famous Walnut Room.
• Holiday shopping, State Street, Chicago: Get something for everyone on your list on this famous shopping street. Stores include Old Navy, Urban Outfitters, Filene's Basement, Forever 21, Sears and New York & Company.