art, current calendar
Wander over to the Chicago Cultural Center to view a rare exhibit of beautiful vintage murals on loan from Lane Tech High School. They'll be in residence in the Chicago Rooms on the 2nd floor until March 1.
The building of Lane Tech coincided with the timing of the mural movement in this country in the early 20th Century. Four student artists were selected from a 1909 competition and their work is shown here along with others painted in 1913 in art nouveau style by George Henry Brandt. My favorite features a woman joining a group of others with a handsome tiger on a leash, if you can believe the oddities of another time. (photo courtesy Chicago Cultural Center)
In 1995 Lane's Principal David Schlichting and Teacher Flora Doody initiated a mural restoration project to save many of the paintings from the further deterioration that had occurred over the years. They enlisted the aid of Barry Bauman head of the Chicago Conservation Center who worked on the project pro bono. An on site video from a Channel 11 broadcast describes the techniques used for the restoration of one of the murals now on view and a useful brochure re the mural project is available just outside the exhibit hall.
On Saturday, February 7 from 9:30AM-1PM you may join Mural Project Director Flora Doody herself for a tour of the many additional murals ensconced at Lane Tech. The tour departs from the Cultural Center at 77 E. Randolph. It is free but space is limited so you must call 312.743.1190 to reserve your place on the motorcoach.
