Wrightwood 659 announces a trio of exhibitions opening May 6. The gallery is at Wrightwood 659, 659 W. Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago.
Exhibitions run Fridays and Saturdays, May 6 — July 16, 2022.
The exhibitions:
American Framing
Wrightwood 659 continues its focus on architecture and socially relevant art with a reinstallation of American Framing, the U.S. entry in the Pavilion for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia (2021). In addressing the theme of the Exhibition, "How Will We Live Together?", the U.S. entry presented wood-framed construction, a building practice popularized in America in the 19th century, and still used in 90 percent of new homes today. This presentation includes a three-story installation in Wrightwood 659's atrium—an abstraction of a wood-framed building through which visitors enter the exhibition—as well as scale models of historic buildings researched and designed by students at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Architecture. The exhibition also includes newly commissioned photographs from Daniel Shea and Chris Strong, as well as furniture produced in common lumber by Norman Kelley and Ania Jaworska. American Framing was made possible by the The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State and the University of Illinois, Chicago, and curated by architects and professors Paul Preissner and Paul Andersen. The Chicago presentation of American Framing is the first time that this project will be seen in the United States. American Framing is presented at Wrightwood 659 by Alphawood Exhibitions in cooperation with the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC).
Rirkrit Tiravanija: (who's afraid of red, yellow, and green)
Wrightwood 659 presents Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija's critically acclaimed artwork (who's afraid of red, yellow, and green) (2010) from the collection of the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC. Tiravanija is widely recognized for his practice of manifesting communities through simple acts rather than focusing attention on a single artwork. Tiravanija's installation recasts Wrightwood 659's second-floor gallery as a communal dining space where visitors are periodically offered Thai curries, while a large-scale mural—derived from photojournalistic imagery of protests—is drawn on the walls. Through Tiravanija's signature communal food-based work, the artist challenges museumgoers' expectations of performance, and underlines a larger interest in relationships among citizens and notions of government and liberty. Rirkrit Tiravanija: (who's afraid of red, yellow, and green) is organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Moga: Modern Women & Daughters in 1930s Japan
Wrightwood 659 premieres a refined selection of Japanese paintings exhibited for the first time in the United States. These works expand on the common depiction of the urbane "modern girl." Moga captured the public imagination in 1920s Japan—prioritizing an independent lifestyle and challenging the traditional state-sanctioned ideal of the "good wife, wise mother." However, the ideal role of women in Japanese society was not one-dimensional and continued to diversify during the 1930s. Moga: Modern Women & Daughters in 1930s Japan brings paintings of mothers and daughters back into the conversation about the moga, exhibiting them beside other more popular imagery of the "modern girl." Drawn from a private collection, many of these works originated from the noted Meguro Gajōen, a massive entertainment complex that first opened in 1931, filled with paintings from the period—primarily of women. Both modern in appearance and traditional in values, these works from the walls of the Meguro Gajōen featured women and children effortlessly engaged in scenes from everyday life. Moga: Modern Women & Daughters in 1930s Japan looks to this collection as a nuanced exploration of feminine representation during a period of dramatic change.
Support for these exhibitions is provided by Alphawood Foundation Chicago.
COVID-19 Response
Wrightwood 659 requires all staff and guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination and booster prior to admission to Wrightwood 659. Proof of vaccine and booster can be official vaccine card or a photo of the card, along with a matching photo ID. Any individual who does not meet these requirements will not be permitted to enter the building. Children who are ineligible for vaccination (0-4 years old) cannot be admitted to the building. Masks will continue to be required throughout the gallery. Read more about Wrightwood 659's health and safety policy at wrightwood659.org/terms-and-conditions/health-safety/ .
About Wrightwood 659
Wrightwood 659 is a private, non-collecting institution devoted to socially engaged art and to architecture. Located at 659 W. Wrightwood Avenue, in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the intimate space officially opened in late 2018 and presents two to three public exhibitions annually. Wrightwood 659 was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando, who transformed a 1920s building with his signature concrete forms and poetic treatment of natural light. For additional information: wrightwood659.org .
