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MCA 50th Wordmark - White MCA Stories
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Arman, Alarm Clocks (Reveils) 1960. Alarm clocks in painted wood box; 23 1/2 × 47 5/16 × 5 in. (59.7 × 120.2 × 12.7 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Debra and Robert N. Mayer from the Robert B. Mayer Memorial Loan Collection, 1983.85. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

24 Hours

Penny Pritzker
Penny Pritzker describes one of the museum's popular round-the-clock solstice celebrations.
1990s Chicago Community Events Parties
Opening of Christo: Wrap In Wrap Out, MCA Chicago. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Links to Chicago

Christo
All our projects, they happen in their prime time. There is something you can never have it again. It is a matter of the dynamics of the trustees of the. . . more
Artists Christo Jan van der Marck Ontario Street
Sina Bahram. © MCA Chicago.

Inclusive Design as a Way of Life

Sina Bahram
Sina Bahram, one of the nation's best respected accessibility consultants, praises the MCA's Visitor Services team for their commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Accessibility Design Publications Staff
Marty Nesbitt. © MCA Chicago.

Friends On the Board

Martin H. Nesbitt
Personal friendships that grow among board members lead to new initiatives and ideas.
Board Community
Penny Pritzker. © MCA Chicago.

Growing Pains

Penny Pritzker
Penny Pritzker describes the excitement of rethinking the museum's building before the move to Chicago Avenue.
1980s Chicago Move Ontario Street
Family Day, Feb 14, 2015. Photo: Joshua Longbrake, © MCA Chicago.

Art Across Generations and Languages

Marissa Reyes
Marissa Reyes shares a poignant Family Day memory.
Community Education Events Youth
Marisol private dining room. Photo: Kendall McCaugherty – Hall+Merrick Photographers, © MCA Chicago.

Leading the Way

Stephanie Morgan
For decades, the MCA has thrived with women in leadership roles throughout the institution.
Staff Women
Sally Kovler. © MCA Chicago.

Meeting Francesco Bonami

Sally Meyers Kovler
Sally Meyers Kovler describes the unbridled energy of Francesco Bonami.
Artists
John Cartland. © MCA Chicago.

Close-Knit

John D. Cartland
Recalling the early days of the board, John D. Cartland remembers everyone pitching in.
1960s Board Events Exhibitions
Kenneth Josephson, Chicago, 1972, 1972. Gelatin silver print and postcard collage; 4 3/4 × 7 in. (12.1 × 17.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago gift of the Foster Charitable Trust in memory of Reuben A. Foster, 1983.37. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

Bigger than Ourselves

Penny Pritzker
The MCA began as a start-up. Now, as a mature institution, its dynamic role in the city has grown.
1960s Chicago Community Founders
Lisa Key. © MCA Chicago.

Generous Trustees

Lisa Key
And the thing that I think a lot of people, and even I forget sometimes, that our trustees are not paid. They have lives. They have jobs. This is not. . . more
Board Community Donors Staff
Installation view, Charles Simonds: Circles and Towers Growing, MCA Chicago, Nov 6, 1981–Jan 3, 1982. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Eat Here, Die in the Alley

Helyn Goldenberg
The MCA's first café gets a name.
1970s Building Ontario Street
Women’s Board members Helyn Holland, Dorie Sternberg, and Rhona Hoffman examine goods sold through the MCA Store. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Hands-On Work

Sally Meyers Kovler
In the early days, Women's Board members did a lot of the grunt work—and had a great time.
Board Women
Kerry James Marshall, Untitled (Painter), 2009. Acrylic on PVC; 44 5/8 x 43 1/8 x 3 7/8 in. (113.4 x 109.5 x 9.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Katherine S. Schamberg by exchange, 2009.15. © 2009 Kerry James Marshall. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

Going Places

Monique Meloche
Gallerist Monique Meloche looks back at the MCA's recent exhibitions.
Chicago Collection Exhibitions Global

Civic Engagement and Chicago

Jack Guthman
Jack Guthman talks about being a private institution with a public role.
Board Chicago
King Harris. © MCA Chicago.

A Namesake

King Harris
King Harris describes the origin of his son John's name.
Board Community
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