An Extraordinary Place
Mary E. Ittelson reflects on the connections between museum, artist, and audience.
Many High Heels to Fill
Mary E. Ittelson reflects on the long list of female board chairs before her, and on King Harris, the first man to serve as board chair after her.
Wrapped Up in the Moment
Christo wrapped the museum, and a couple found a new use for the installation.
That’s Not Felix
In Felix the Cat, the Field Museum's most famous exhibition gets a rival.
Making the Mobiles Move
Alexander Calder has some hands-on fun with his mobiles.
Female Leaders are Key
Women have long played a key role in MCA leadership.
Everybody’s Got an Opinion
Their excitement about the MCA and contemporary art means that the museum's board members are among the most engaged in the city.
On Magdalena Abakanowicz
King Harris buys five charcoal drawings from Abakanowicz's 1983 exhibition.
More Than Just Curating
Curators are artists, and the strength of the museum is created by a quality museum staff.
Squares, Pyramids, and Fishes
Stefan Edlis describes the architectural materials and forms employed by Josef Paul Kleihues for the Chicago Avenue building.
How to Trade a Warhol
The sale of a Warhol painting marked the start of the Edlis Neeson Art Acquisition Fund.
The Richness of Art
Newness doesn’t equal quality: it may be good, it may not.
A Lot of Good Stuff
People were happy to help grow the collection from the beginning.
Should the MCA Start Collecting?
From the beginning, the MCA's founders debated the question of whether the museum should be a kunsthalle—a non-collecting institution—or start a collection.
Creating Boulevard Culture
John Kern discusses the benefits of a smaller-than-planned museum building on Chicago Avenue, which allowed for an activation of city sphere around it.
Befriending Jan van der Marck
Scott Hodes established a friendship with Jan van der Marck that lasted beyond Van der Marck's tenure at the MCA.