We Will Have the Title of Great Museum
Excerpts from Allen Turner's stirring speech for the Chicago Avenue building groundbreaking.
Allen Turner
Life Member of the Board of Trustees. Served as Board Chair from 1991 to 1996.
Allen Turner’s Ballad for the MCA
The first lines of his song about the MCA recited.
Taking Risks at the Armory Show
The ideas that were generated by the successful Armory show—the last before it was demolished for the Chicago Avenue building—set the stage for some of the presentations at the new. . . more
Joseph Kleihues
Allen Turner talks about Joseph Paul Kleiheus, architect of the MCA's current building.
Jerry Stone’s Sharp Fundraising
Allen Turner reminisces on Jerry Stone’s incredible fundraising abilities.
Going Against the Postmodern Grain
Initial reactions by critics to the Kleihues building were mixed.
Searching for an Architect
The world-tour search for a new architect: Allen Turner describes the finalists for the building design commission.
Bound Together by the MCA
Many founders of the new MCA were outsiders who had not been invited to join the board of the Art Institute.