Richard Gray Gallery, in partnership with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), is pleased to announce People vs. Space, a student exhibition that is the culmination of an intensive summer course led by Jaume Plensa, world-renowned Spanish sculptor and creator of the Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The exhibition opens Friday, July 6 and runs through July 20, 2012. The artworks on view in People vs. Space were conceived and created by 11 SAIC undergraduate and graduate students, as well as two visiting international students. Throughout People vs. Space, students worked directly with Plensa to develop project proposals for public works integrating contemporary media with the core concerns of objects, spaces, communities, and interactions. This exhibition features the detailed models and proposals developed by class members.
For the purpose of the class, Plensa asked the students to concentrate on the roles of both the artwork and the artist in public spaces and how they are understood in contemporary contexts. Students were encouraged to explore the multiple ways in which artists can create new kinds of connections between people and space, art and society, and art institutions and communities.
Plensa is the current William and Stephanie Sick Distinguished Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Established in 2006 by a generous gift from William and Stephanie Sick, this distinguished professorship enables internationally renowned artists and designers to visit and teach at SAIC. People vs. Space is the second course taught by Plensa at SAIC that has culminated in an exhibition through Richard Gray Gallery. This summer, Plensa’s co-teachers are SAIC faculty members John Manning and Bo Rodda (SAIC MFA 2010). “We are proud to recognize the contributions that Jaume Plensa has made to the cultural landscape of the city of Chicago, and we are thrilled that SAIC students have the opportunity to use their talents to work with Plensa on proposals for major new public art works in our great city,” stated William and Stephanie Sick.
Exhibition Opening and Artist Reception:
Friday, July 6, 3:30-5:00 pm
Richard Gray Gallery
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2503
Chicago, Illinois 60611