Art Connects Us, Volume 28

A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

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

Our community's work demonstrates a belief in our interconnectedness as people and our shared responsibility to make positive change. Below you’ll find just a few of the stories that build our optimism, reignite our passion, and fill us with hope for the future.

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
Volume 22
Volume 23
Volume 24
Volume 25
Volume 26
Volume 27

A virtual simulation of a reclining orange figure covered in text — Claudia Hart, Kiki.object, 2017, screen grab. Courtesy of the artist and Hyperallergic

Professor Claudia Hart Makes the Case for a Feminist Manifesta of the Blockchain
In response to the NFT boom, Professor Claudia Hart wrote “A Feminist Manifesta of the Blockchain.” In Hyperallergic, she shares how blockchains reflect how we think about art and cultural value in our present moment, reflecting on conceptions of self and how the internet has shaped the modern world. read more

A still from a television program where two women are wearing aprons and baking together — Video still courtesy of CBS Chicago

Professor, Adj. Eugenia Cheng Uses Baking to Bring Math Concepts to Life
Professor, Adj. Eugenia Cheng was featured in a recent episode of CBS’s Mission Unstoppable, demonstrating what baking can teach us about math. Beyond the obvious measurements and scales, Cheng uses pie crusts and cakes to teach more advanced mathematical concepts and break down barriers for those intimidated by the field. read more

A man and a woman stand in front of a large window in a building in a city — Elizabeth Blasius (BA 2004, MS 2008) and Associate Professor Jonathan Solomon. Photo by Alexandra Ensign, courtesy of Newcity

Preservation Futures’s Co-Founders Profiled in Newcity
Newcity spoke to Associate Professor Jonathan Solomon and alum Elizabeth Blasius (BA 2004, MS 2008) about their firm Preservation Futures. They share how their firm does more than just save buildings, seeing preservation as a way to elevate a place’s cultural history and “...as a tool to increase justice, equity and resiliency in the built environment.” read more

A series of six fiber-art weavings — Weavings from participants in The We Were Never Alone Project

Alum Bryana Bibbs Supports Victims of Domestic Violence Through Weaving
During an abusive relationship, alum Bryana Bibbs (BFA 2014) lost her way as an artist. When she was able to start over, she found solace in weaving, and she’s now helping others do the same in The We Were Never Alone Project. This series of free workshops for survivors of domestic abuse gives women a place to share their stories and connect over craft. read more

Student Nitya Mehrotra’s Animations Give a Voice to Victims