Art Connects Us, Volume 22

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
Volume 20
Volume 21

Alum Nikko Washington Designs Apparel for the Chicago Cubs for Black History Month
Alum Nikko Washington (BFA 2016) will design a limited-edition apparel collection in honor of Black History Month for the Chicago Cubs. In their designs, Washington will pay tribute to two iconic Black baseball players: Buck O’Neil and Ernie Banks. All proceeds from the collection will benefit The Bloc, a local nonprofit that provides mentoring support for Chicago youth. read more

Alum Karen Tam Curates an Exhibition on the History and Conceptions of Chinatown
Alum Karen Tam (MFA 2002) is curating the group exhibition Whose Chinatown? Examining Chinatown Gazes in Art, Archives, and Collections at Griffin Art Projects. The exhibition uses works by Asian and non-Asian artists to form an art history of Chinatown neighborhoods and their residents, exploring “a spirit of activism and advocacy surrounding cultural community and place.” read more

Supporting Artists During a Pandemic
The arts and public health are often seen as two distinct fields with different missions. But when the pandemic hit, alum Meghan Moe Beitiks (MFA 2013) began to explore how one could support the other. As part of her work at the Center for Arts in Medicine, Beitiks helped launch Performing Public Health: an advisory for safe arts practices, a centering of access for marginalized artists, and a series of conversations about remote cultures. read more