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|  Home for the Holidays Family, friends, the Art Institute—it's always a good combination, especially during the holiday season. But this year, we're making it even more special by bringing back some museum favorites beginning November 1. Arms and Armor: Highlights of the Permanent Collection presents over 50 pieces from the museum's ever-popular holdings, including, for the first time ever, a knight on a fully arrayed horse. Marc Chagall's beloved America Windows return to new galleries after a five-year absence and extensive conservation. And another favorite, the Thorne Miniature Rooms, get a dose of holiday merriment as several rooms don period-appropriate decorations for the season. Bring your family "Home for the Holidays" and let this month's self-guide lead you to the wealth of happy returns.
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| |  Chicago's Favorite Windows Return Since debuting at the Art Institute in 1977, Marc Chagall's America Windows, or the "Chagall Windows," as they are more popularly known, hold a special place in the hearts of Chicagoans. On November 1, this monumental stained-glass masterpiece, fresh from conservation treatment, returns to the galleries and its faithful fans. There's still time to become a member and be the first to see this brand new installation with three full days of Member Previews and five member-only lectures. Join us to welcome this treasure back to the galleries and stop by for a special late-night viewing at After Dark on November 12!
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| |  Wreathing of the Lions Whether proudly wearing helmets of the city's various sports teams or outfitted with holiday-inspired neckware, the Art Institute's lions are all about civic pride and festive occasions. Join the leonine duo on November 26 as they put on their seasonal finery and kick off the holiday season with the 19th Annual Wreathing of the Lions. The festivities begin at 10:00 as the mighty lion pair is wrapped with wreaths created by the Chicago design team Materious. The fun continues with a performance by Hubbard Street 2 at 11:00 and daylong drop-in programs where families can create their own celebratory wreaths.
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|  The Writing's on the Bronze In this age of instant messaging, tweeting, and blogging, it's hard to imagine a time when only the most important historical events—imperial edicts or military campaigns—were recorded, much less that these events were recorded in bronze. And yet the earliest forms of China's written language can be traced through the prominent surface designs and inscriptions of bronze vessels. Opening November 7, Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio: The Katherine and George Fan Collection follows the evolution of bronze inscriptions with 72 ancient works from the 18th through the 3rd century B.C. Go deeper into the origins of the Chinese language and these storied bronzes as Edward L. Shaughnessy of the University of Chicago presents a special lecture on November 18.
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|  Seeing (Non-Holiday) Things Not ready to embrace the holiday season quite yet? The museum has plenty of special Seeing Things events this month that stimulate the eyes, ears, and mind (and steer clear of sleigh bells and garlands). Highlights include: ShareThis |
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|  New Home for Textiles While tapestries and textiles can be spotted throughout the museum's galleries, it's been nearly six years since dedicated textile galleries have been open to feature this vast and diverse collection. So we're delighted to announce the reopening of the textile galleries on November 3 with not one but two special exhibitions. Contemporary Fiber Art: A Selection from the Permanent Collection presents 61 works by 52 artists tracing the development of fiber art, while June Wayne's Narrative Tapestries: Tidal Waves, DNA, and the Cosmos brings together 11 dynamic tapestries created between 1971 and 1974 after Wayne's innovative graphic designs. Hear from June Wayne herself with a special artist's talk on November 5 or take home a catalogue that features Art Institute curator emerita Christa C. Mayer Thurman telling the story of the tapestries' creation.
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|  The Art of the Gift
This holiday season, put 5,000 years of creativity under the tree with a gift membership that will let your loved ones experience everything the Art Institute has to offer all year long. For the perfect stocking stuffer, Adopt a Dot returns with the classic colors of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884 along with special limited edition dots honoring Chagall's America Windows, arms and armor, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Visit www.artic.edu/gifts for more information or to purchase your gifts today!
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| Half Armor for Foot Tourney at the Barriers (detail), 1575/80. Northern Italian, Milan. George F. Harding Collection. Half Armor for Foot Tourney at the Barriers (detail), 1575/80. Northern Italian, Milan. George F. Harding Collection. Marc Chagall. America Windows (detail), 1977. A gift of Marc Chagall, the City of Chicago, and the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago, commemorating the American Bicentennial in memory of Mayor Richard J. Daley. © 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ ADAGP, Paris. Wine Bucket (You), late Shang or early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th century B.C. China. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. George Fan. Coin Showing Mithradates VI of Pontus and Bithynia, 90–89 B.C. Greek. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson. June Wayne. Grande Vague Noire (Black Tidal Wave), 1973. Woven at Atelier de Saint Cyr. Photo by Jim Frank.
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November 2010
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