Kirsten Kilponen loves The Modern Wing at the Art Institute Chicago

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: May 18th, 2009 | 12:00am

Finally, the Art Institute has gotten a serious makeover. As a Chi-town native, I’ve probably visited the Art Institute a billion times. Okay, that’s probably a little bit of an exaggeration, but every year I’ve taken at least one field trip at the AIC, written a paper for a work of art there, or did some serious bonding over making fun of various works of art. Each time it just seemed like the same old thing, and there’s only so many times I can rub the tails of those famous bronze lions on the front steps for good luck.

Thank you Art Institute Chicago for giving yourself an art overhaul. Not only did the museum give some new space to their African art, Indian Art of the Americas, and Asian art collections, but they've also added an entire new wing to house their 20th and 21st century art collection. In addition to Hesse, Warhol, and Pollack getting a new home, the Modern Wing is a little more “green” than its older sister wings. There’s a contraption on the roof that filters in natural daylight (popularly referred to as the flying carpet), and a double-paned, transparent, glazed facade, which meets temperature and humidity conditions required for art while also surpassing Chicago Energy Code requirements.

Check out the Modern Wing for yourself. Opening day was May 16th, but there’s free admission till the 22nd. Go now before they jack up the price of admission to $18.

Kirsten Kilponen is a Venus Zine editorial intern.