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|  All That Glitters
In the case of this dazzling textile, the old adage is true; all that glitters is not gold—it's golden spider silk! This one-of-a-kind piece, on loan to the museum to celebrate the new galleries of African art and Indian art of the Americas, was woven from silk harvested from over one million of Madagascar's golden orb spiders. While its brilliant color is clearly mesmerizing, the silken cloth is also incredibly strong and remarkably elastic, so much so that scientists are researching potential uses for spider silk in the medical and military arenas. Learn more about this remarkable cloth with our video and take an even closer look with the lecture, "Gold from a Spider's Web," on August 18.
 
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|  Calling All Art Book Lovers
If you're an art book lover, the name Taschen is no stranger. The German art, architecture, and design publisher produces some of today's most beautiful and best-selling books, and the Art Institute has just become the first museum in the United States to enter into a historic agreement with the publisher. Taschen's lovely offerings are now featured at a special section of the main Museum Shop's bookstore with selections covering all periods and areas of art. Come on in to browse, and perhaps buy, the loveliness!
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|  Let's Hear It for the Ladies
While August might not be Women's History Month, we thought it was as good a time as any to shine a light on some illustrious ladies of the art world. An exhibition in the museum's libraries, Making History: Women of the Art Institute, honors eight women who made significant contributions to the museum. Among them are Bessie Bennett, the first female curator in a major U.S. museum, and Helen Gardner, who wrote the classic art history book, Art through the Ages, while an instructor at the school. In a further nod to the fairer sex, we're offering a two-part express talk, Modern Women, on August 5 and 12: a look at the changing and varied roles women played in the first part of the 20th century—from wife, mother, muse, and femme fatale to artist, performer, and symbol of modernity.
Please note: Exhibitions in the libraries are not open on Saturdays and Sundays.
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|  Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Perhaps it's a tendency toward self-reflection, perhaps it's a bit of vanity, or perhaps it's simply the convenience of having a cheap and ready model, but artists have been portraying their own likenesses for centuries now, basically since mirrors became widely available in the 15th century. And while these popular self-portraits may not offer us a window into the artist's soul or even a glimpse of how these artists saw themselves, they do present an interesting picture of how they wanted to be seen. Get ready for some navel-gazing with this month's self-(portrait-)indulgent mini-tour: Me, Myself, and I.
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|  Happy 50th Birthday, Docent Program!
This year we're celebrating 50 years of one of the museum's most amazing volunteer groups, its docents. Over the last half century, this dedicated bunch of educators has engaged young people in looking at and discussing the museum's diverse collection of artworks. As a way of paying homage to the docents' invaluable contributions to the museum and the community, we are collecting stories from people of all ages about the experiences they have had with a docent in this museum, as recently as yesterday or as long ago as 1961. Send your story to aicdocent@artic.edu and become a part of our historical record.
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|  Membership-The Perfect Summer Treat
As summer offers up its sunny days and balmy nights, add one more delight with the benefits of membership. Experience the excitement of the Art Institute on a brighter level—enjoy 10% off indulgences at Terzo Piano, relaxation on the outdoor patio of the Member Lounge, and exclusive access to the latest exhibitions. As always, members breeze past any lines with free museum admission. Beat the summer heat with a cool, new membership—join today!
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| | A spider silk textile from Madagascar (detail).
B. Shirokrad. A Menacing Ghost, February 4, 1944. Gift of the USSR Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Kukryniksy. Thunderous Blow, June 17, 1942. Gift of the USSR Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.
A spider silk textile from Madagascar.
The new Taschen Shop in the Art Institute's Museum Shop.
Art Institute students working on a mural painting in 1918.
Vincent van Gogh. Self-Portrait, 1887. Joseph Winterbotham Collection.
An Art Institute docent leads children on a museum tour.
Members enjoy the outdoor space of the Member Lounge.
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August 2011
Take the CTA to the Art Institute.