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Hey, there are a lot of great things about being here in Chicago. When I moved, I moved from the Twin Cities (for those of you that don’t know, that would be Minneapolis / St. Paul). There was a bit to do there with the art world, mainly thanks to the Walker being located in Minneapolis. Every now and then someone special would come to town to give a lecture, usually in conjunction with a show that was happening. But it was only every now and then.

Chicago, however, is a much different story. It seems like there is something going on here every week, and usually there is too much to actually do (at least with school work included). Last week Katie Paterson, an artist that had work in the Exposures show (a space where emerging artists show) over at the Art Institute, was giving a lecture about the work she had been making over the past few years as well as the work that was currently on display. A group of the first year students decided to go.The lecture was actually quite fantastic. Paterson’s work is very scientific and conceptual, which is right up my alley, at least the scientific part. I usually am not big on work that is really conceptual, but Paterson’s work is witty. Good conceptual art is witty, and I was happy to hear her talk about it.

My favorite pieces she mentioned in the talk were the Light Bulb to Simulate Moonlight and All the Dead Stars. Two fantastic pieces.

Katie Paterson, Light Bulb to Simulate Moonlight

For Light Bulb to Simulate Moonlight, Paterson worked with a light designer to create a light bulb (just like daylight bulbs) that would simulate moonlight. They made just enough of them to last one person’s lifetime. They are displayed with one lit up and the others (I think there were 89) in a case. Fantastic!

Katie Paterson, All the Dead Stars

In All the Dead Stars, Paterson worked with scientists tracking stars that are witnessed dying. They mapped them all out on a map of the night sky, then she had the points laser etched into a piece of black aluminum. Again, really great and witty stuff with a deep meaning. Also just beautiful objects.

I found the work and the lecture to be a success on many levels.