Art Connects Us, Volume 20

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), our community has responded to the current moment as true citizen artists.

Their work demonstrates a belief in our interconnectedness as people and our shared responsibility to make positive change. We know headlines may be overwhelming these days, so below you’ll find good news highlighting the incredible efforts of SAIC’s artists and designers to forge and deepen connections with our communities.

We hope it inspires you for the week ahead.

Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
Volume 9
Volume 10
Volume 11
Volume 12
Volume 13
Volume 14
Volume 15
Volume 16
Volume 17
Volume 18
Volume 19

WTTW Talks to Alum René Arceo About Continuing Mexico’s Printmaking Tradition
After teaching in Chicago Public Schools for nearly two decades, René Arceo (BFA 1985) is dedicating himself to printmaking. WTTW interviewed Arceo about his work, which continues the tradition of Mexican printmaking that started in the late 1800s, and Arceo Press, where he publishes prints from artists all over the world. read more

Faculty Member Edra Soto Featured in Exhibition of Work Made During the Pandemic
Lecturer Edra Soto's (MFA 2000) work was featured in the group exhibition Unreachable Spring at Luis De Jesus in Los Angeles, a show about work produced during the pandemic. Each artwork was paired with the artist’s reflections on how their practice has responded to the crises of 2020. read more

Cultured Magazine Talks to Alum Ferrari Sheppard About Depicting Black Joy
Cultured magazine profiled Ferrari Sheppard (BFA 2005) on his return to painting. After a decade-long hiatus, Sheppard’s first solo show, Heroines of Innocence, communicates hope and joy. “Pain is easy for me, because I’ve experienced it . . . but, to be able to articulate beauty, that is rare, and it’s so necessary in this world,” Sheppard shared. read more