Art Institute’s Modern Wing is a modern miracle
June 5, 2009
Last month, the Art Institute of Chicago opened its Modern Wing, a $294 million showcase for modern and contemporary art more than a decade in the making.
This “green” building celebrates the happy union of nature with culture through eco-friendly features, natural materials, and a design that makes the most of its location at the intersection of Grant and Millennium Parks.
The building solves a practical problem — the need for more space — in an artful way.
Besides plenty of room to show off the Art Institute’s modern and contemporary collections, it provides inspiring, light-filled spaces to give visitors mental and visual “breathing room.” It also increases space for education and research, makes possible a complete reinstallation of objects throughout the entire museum, and provides plenty of visitor amenities.
It also sets an extraordinary precedent. In a miracle of civic spirit, a group of donors gave the Art Institute nearly $50 million for this project, which allowed the museum to raise the rest of the money needed for construction plus an operating endowment. Even more miraculous, those original donors insisted on remaining anonymous and refused to put their names on the building.
Once upon a time, public servants of extraordinary stature might be honored after their deaths, as a memorial, by using their names for public buildings or projects. In the past generation, however, lawmakers across this land have corrupted this practice by naming public buildings and other community assets for living individuals. Chicagoans need not look hard to find examples of personal egotism run amok at public expense.
The State of Illinois Building, for example, was renamed for a living governor, liked by some and disliked by others, who still is active in civic affairs — meaning his legacy is not yet complete. As another example, the new Cook County Hospital was named for a long-time politician whose legacy also is mixed, and whose questionable actions in the face of illness ended in his eventually being replaced in office by his less-than-popular son.
In the face of these sorry examples, the Art Institute’s new building offers hope for a new era of civic commitment. Its very name fosters an ideal—that of the modern, the new, and the progressive. That this miracle could occur at this time, in this city, is cause for celebration.
We urge all Chicagoans to visit the Modern Wing, enjoy its beautiful art and architecture, and delight in its natural setting. More than that, we urge all those who serve the public to rededicate themselves to the noble ideals upon which this nation was founded.
