The Art of Living in the Windy City
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Perched on Navy Pier with views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, Expo Chicago will welcome exhibitors from 27 countries, its most international edition yet. In addition to the exhibitors, there will also be citywide programs including a daylong sympoThe Art of Living in the Windy City
Perched on Navy Pier with views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, Expo Chicago will welcome exhibitors from 27 countries, its most international edition yet. In addition to the exhibitors, there will also be citywide programs including a daylong symposium of talks, curated screenings, an interview marathon in tribute to the beloved Studs Terkel, and more. Expo Chicago will take place September 27-30, but visitors will want to stay longer to explore Chicago’s famous restaurant scene, ethnic neighborhoods, and beautiful parks. We spoke to Tony Karman, president and director of the art fair, for advice on how to best experience the city.Are you from Chicago originally? If not, what drew you to the city? I was raised in Rock Island, Illinois, but visited Chicago often, as I am proud to have a large Greek immigrant family here. We always took the Rock Island Rocket train in to visit and I knew early on that this was the place that I had to live. I moved to Chicago in 1982 with an open plan, but 36 years later…I am most proud to call this most vibrant, creative, diverse and beautiful international city my home.What can visitors expect from this year’s Art Expo and what are you most excited for? Honestly, I am excited to see what our 135 galleries from 27 countries and 63 international cities will bring as I am most confident that the work will be provocative, challenging, beautiful and most importantly… worth buying. Our highlight onsite programs are not to be missed — In/Situ curated by Pablo Leon de la Barra, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum curator at large, Latin America; Expo Video curated by Anna Gritz from the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin and /Dialogues, our day-long series of discussions and provocative discourse with artists, curators, and professionals. Hans Ulrich Obrist’s Creative Chicago — an Interview Marathon will definitely be a stand-out event chronicling individuals who have helped to define Chicago’s creative landscape.What’s unique about Chicago’s art scene compared with other major US cities like New York or Los Angeles? Chicago is a hard-working city with great international teaching institutions and that ethos is reflected by the artists and the artwork being produced here. Leading artists like Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Jessica Stockholder, Nick Cave, Dawoud Bay, Barbara Kasten and many others are showing work that is intellectually rigorous and determined. Chicago was also the first city in America to host an international art fair (beginning in 1980) and coupling this annual event with our robust gallery scene and numerous art schools and institutions, you can understand why I say that this is one of most deeply creative cities in America. What other activities would you recommend near Navy Pier? Strolling our scenic lakefront near Navy Pier is truly magical since the views of the lake and the city never disappoint and you are not far from one of the best shopping districts in the world — The Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue.Do you have a favorite bar where visitors could unwind after a long day at the Expo? Zbar, at the Peninsula and NoMI at the Park Hyatt are favorites but Chicago also has a long list of great dive bars and unique locations like the Smart Bar, Rainbo Club, Skylark, Richard’s Bar and the Matchbox. Chicago is renowned for its restaurants. What is your favorite neighborhood spot and what’s a hot new restaurant you want to try? Chicago’s restaurant scene is definitely celebrated and although I do have my favorites like Blackbird and Coco Pazzo, you cannot go wrong with others leading the way like Girl & the Goat, Elske, BLVD, HaiSous, Giant and many, many more. I travel a great deal but I sincerely love being home so I can add a few more to the list. Which museums or galleries would you recommend to visitors? All of them. I have to be a bit politic with this answer but honestly, Chicago’s gallery scene is extraordinary and our institutions unmatched. Plan to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago but not to be missed is also the Smart Museum, Renaissance Society, DePaul Art Museum, Block Museum at Northwestern, the Arts Club of Chicago and the Graham Foundation.What is your favorite neighborhood in Chicago and why? This too is impossible to answer as Chicago is well-known for its wonderful neighborhoods and each has its own identity and is worth exploring. You can’t go wrong getting outside of the downtown area to West Town, West Loop, Pilsen, Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, Andersonville and Hyde Park. What is the one tourist site you’d recommend to people visiting Chicago for the first time? Strolling Navy Pier is a perfect way to connect to our extraordinary Lake Michigan and it is also full of great cultural programming but you cannot miss Millennium Park for “Cloud Gate” by Anish Kapoor, the Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa and Frank Gehry’s masterpiece pavilion. Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park also never disappoints. I always knew I was in Chicago when I saw that landmark.Do you have a favorite park in the city where you like to spend a quiet afternoon? All. From the Jackson Park in the South to Grant Park and Lincoln Park in the North and Garfield Park in the West, Chicago lives up to its Latin motto Urbs in Horto or City in a Garden.Each neighborhood in Chicago is rather distinct. What neighborhood would you recommend for an afternoon of aimless walking and window-shopping? For window shopping you can walk from the heart of downtown to the Magnificent Mile and Oak Street, but areas like Wicker Park, Bucktown, West Town and Armitage feature more small stores and boutiques. Chicago is know for its rich diversity and you can walk through Indian and Pakistani culture on Devon Avenue, visit China in Chinatown, Mexico in Pilsen and Puerto Rico in Humboldt Park. Where would you recommend people stay in Chicago (could be a neighborhood or hotel)? We have several partner hotels this year and all have unique qualities and offerings to make sure that you have a wonderful stay — The Peninsula Hotel Chicago, Park Hyatt Chicago, The Robey, Ambassador, Virgin Hotels Chicago, Lowes, Ace Hotel Chicago and The W Chicago Lakeshore are great properties.Finally, Cubs or White Sox? Easy answer, Cubs. But I reserve the right to cheer for the White Sox as I am Chicago proud.http://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 11.0px} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #d81e00} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #232323} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none} span.s2 {font-kerning: none} Read more