The Art Institute of Chicago’s latest photography exhibition showcases a collection of perceptive, subtle images focusing on the subject of female adolescence. Girls on the Verge: Portraits of Adolescence—on view December 8, 2007, through February 24, 2008, features more than 40 photographs and one video by 11 contemporary artists, ranging from documentary pieces examining peer groups and body image to posed individual portraits. These pictures reveal the complexity, power, and common humanity of the transitional moments between girlhood and womanhood.
The Museum of Contemporary Photography exhibits This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land, Feb. 1 – March 22. The tile represents words that were written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 in response to what he felt were the overly simplified glorification of the country in the lyrics of Irving Berlin’s song “God Bless America.” Guthrie, who grew up in a poor, farming family in Oklahoma, observed what he believed was a disconnect between the glorification of the country in Berlin’s song and the reality of social problems and an extremely unbalanced distribution of wealth at the end of the Great Depression. Guthrie was interested in the social and economic diversity of America, and through his music created a more accurate, yet still poetic, commentary on this country. Similarly, the artists in this exhibition, sixty-seven years after Guthrie penned his song, are interested in what makes America tick. They use current events and personal observations as their starting point and in their artwork comment on the political, religious, and cultural climate of this country. The exhibition presents broad cross views of America today where terror, religion, politics, the presidential election, and war are dominant issues. Participating artists include Roberto Bellini, Peter Granser, Caroline Hake, Christian Jankowski, Simon Roberts, Greg Stimac, and Brian Zanisnik.
The City of Chicago and the Photography Department of Columbia College Chicago have partnered to curate and install photographic exhibitions at the City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower, 806 North Michigan Avenue. This unique exhibition space is dedicated to presenting Chicago-themed photographic work, and/or photo-based work by Chicago photographers and artists. To learn about the current exhibit at the City Gallery, click here.