Top Attractions in Chicago by the Director of Expo Chicago
newsdepo.com
Expo Chicago, the international exposition of contemporary and modern art with more than 3,000 works from 135 galleries from 25 countries and 58 international cities, will be open to visitors from September 13 through 17, 2017.“Opening during Expo Art WeekTop Attractions in Chicago by the Director of Expo Chicago
Expo Chicago, the international exposition of contemporary and modern art with more than 3,000 works from 135 galleries from 25 countries and 58 international cities, will be open to visitors from September 13 through 17, 2017.“Opening during Expo Art Week are numerous events including a special exhibition by Gaetano Pesce at The Peninsula Hotel Chicago; Roman Ondák: ‘Man Walking toward a Fata Morgana’ at the Arts Club of Chicago; Carrie Mae’d ‘Weems: Ritual and Revolution’ at The Block Museum; Emmanuel Pratt: ‘“Radical [Re]Constructions’ at The SMART Museum, David Hartt’s ‘in the forest’ at the Graham Foundation and the final weeks of Takashi Murakami’s ‘The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago,” says Tony Karman, President and Director, Expo Chicago. Karman has been active in the civic, business and cultural communities of Chicago for nearly 30 years. Working with select institutions, associations, government organizations, producers of special events and corporations, he has guided numerous projects from concept to conclusion. Blouin ARTINFO spoke to him about his top recommendations for those visiting Chicago.What restaurants, bars, and cafes would you recommend in Chicago and why?Condé Nast Traveler just named Chicago as America’s Best Restaurant City and its list is quite extensive. I love Chicago’s small neighborhood places and to relax in some of our hotel partner restaurants like NoMI in the Park Hyatt, Avenues in the Peninsula and Nico Osteria in the Thompson for a drink and a bite. Where would you go and what would you do if you had a free morning or afternoon in Chicago?I’m easy, with all of the travel and events, nothing beats a quiet morning at home with my wife, two cats and home cooked al fresco breakfast.Where would you head to in Chicago for the best shopping and what would you buy?Again, there are great neighborhoods to explore like West Loop, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Lakeview, Pilsen and Hyde Park to name a few but you can’t go wrong on Oak Street and Michigan Avenue. Where would you recommend people stay when they visit Chicago?We have a great list of partner hotels that never disappoint — The Peninsula Chicago, Park Hyatt Chicago, Virgin Hotel, Ambassador Chicago, Thompson Chicago, W Chicago Lakeshore, The Robey Chicago, The Godfrey Hotel Chicago and the new Ace Hotel Chicago.What are the best places to see and buy art in Chicago?It would be wrong if I didn’t say EXPO CHICAGO on September 13–17 but we are only five days and the rest of the year our galleries, museums and exhibition spaces are teeming with great work by local and international artists. What are the best places to see live bands or musicians in Chicago and why? Chicago is known for its great music and music halls. Nothing beats Metro, Smart Bar, The Green Mill, The Empty Bottle, The Hideout, Schubas, the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on a summer night and larger halls like the Chicago Theatre and the Auditorium.What are the best spots for experiencing Chicago’s nightlife after spending the day at an art fair?Chicago never disappoints with a robust nightlife scene. You can stay at Navy Pier and watch the sunset, head to River North or the West Loop for the many restaurants or clubs or find a cozy spot in the many local bars and clubs.What are your recommendations for must-see exhibitions at Expo Chicago and why?There are so many as Chicago is ready to welcome the world and our institutions, museums and galleries have worked hard to align special openings and exhibitions. Of note this year is our collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo on the first ever US Hor les Murs exhibition titled “Singing Stones”. The exhibition highlights works from both Chicago and French artists. Additionally, we are extremely proud of the date and programming alignment with the second Chicago Architectural Biennial co-curated by Sharon Johnson and Mark Lee of Johnson Marklee. (Further events are detailed above.)What projects are you currently working on/involved in?Getting Expo Chicago 2017 perfect for our participating exhibitors and visiting collectors, curators and art enthusiasts from around the world is my focus right now. However, we do have some surprises for 2018. Click here to view a slideshow on Chicago. Read more