#mca collection

[canforasoap]

Jeanne Dunning (American, born 1960), The extra hair 2, 1994. MCA Chicago

[pearlwellockadad-blog]

MCA Excursion Highlights: Untitled Clock (2014)

this work is simplistic but keeps you glued to it, and the sleek and finished look to this artwork really draws you in to admire its aesthetic appeal. The concept of time compressed within a shorter time brings attention to just how quick time passes for us now-days

[mbproject-blog]

Spring Fever at MCA Chicago

I’m a docent at the MCA Chicago, and I have spring fever. Partly because I can’t wait for balmy spring weather to come to Chicago. But mostly because I can’t wait for the Mark Bradford show to open at the MCA this spring (May 28). Why am I so eager for this exhibition?  

Working as a docent for the past few years has given me a unique perspective on the art that is showcased in this institution. I’ve learned to look for specific characteristics which provide the talking points for public tours I lead at the museum…and an exhibition of Mark Bradford’s work is akin to discovering the mother lode. First, I want an artist with a compelling story. Mark Bradford’s fits the bill. From growing up in South Central LA and working as a “beauty operator” in his mother’s beauty shop, to receiving the MacArthur “genius award” fellowship in 2009, his is an unlikely and dramatic narrative. 

An unusual practice is another characteristic I look for, and in this regard, Bradford’s work is golden as well. Mining materials from the popular culture of South Central LA, he produces paintings/collages rich in color and texture. Thriller, a 2009 work in the MCA collection, was created using multiple layers of found papers that had been soaked in water. After they dried, Bradford sanded down the surface, revealing layers of color and meaning like a sort of urban archaeology. 

So far, so good. But I also love a mystery, something not readily apparent to the casual viewer, something I can tell visitors that they wouldn’t know without coming on my tour. Bradford’s work provides that exciting element, too. Consider Thriller. The title hints at the secret: a poster advertising the reissue of Michael Jackson’s 1982 album, Thriller, was imbedded in the composition but obscured in the process of layering and sanding. Finally, one of the great benefits of being a docent at the MCA is the fact that I often get to meet the artists. With the Bradford exhibition I hit pay dirt again. Through the ongoing Mark Bradford Project, the artist is spending time in Chicago in numerous venues, including the MCA, the Lindblom Math & Science Academy and the Chicago Public Library. When I meet him, I’ll ask what he thinks is most important to share with visitors on my tours.  

So there you have it. Why, for me, the Mark Bradford exhibition will be the highlight of the spring season in Chicago.

— Ann Feinberg, MCA docent. For a schedule of docent-led tours, click here.

Image: Mark Bradford, Thriller, 2009. Mixed media collage on canvas, 101 × 142 in. (256.5 × 360.7 cm), 
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin by exchange. Photography © Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Photo: Nathan Keay