Afterall revisits Mary Jane Jacob's 'Culture in Action' 1993 Chicago public art program
Afterall's Exhibition Histories series examines 'Culture in Action', a 1993 public art program organized by Sculpture Chicago across multiple sites in Chicago from May to September 1993. Curated by Mary Jane Jacob, the initiative featured eight collaborative projects between artists and community groups, addressing urban ecology, labor, healthcare, and social displacement. Mark Dion and the Chicago Urban Ecology Action Group created an ecological field station in Lincoln Park. Kate Ericson and Mel Ziegler worked with Ogden Courts residents on a paint chart about public housing. Simon Grennan and Christopher Sperandio partnered with Nestlé factory workers to produce a candy bar and billboards. Haha cultivated a hydroponic garden for HIV/AIDS organizations. Suzanne Lacy installed 100 limestone monuments honoring Chicago women and hosted a dinner at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle led a youth video project culminating in installations at Emerson House and MCA Chicago. Daniel J. Martinez staged a parade and installation exploring neighborhood change. Robert Peters created an interactive telephone line and symposium on social classification. The program is documented in Afterall's online exploration.
Key facts
- Culture in Action ran May to September 1993 in Chicago.
- It included eight collaborative projects by artists and community groups.
- Mark Dion worked with the Chicago Urban Ecology Action Group on a field station in Lincoln Park.
- Kate Ericson and Mel Ziegler created a paint chart with Ogden Courts residents.
- Simon Grennan and Christopher Sperandio produced a candy bar with Nestlé factory workers.
- Haha cultivated a hydroponic garden for HIV/AIDS organizations in Rogers Park.
- Suzanne Lacy installed 100 limestone monuments and held a dinner at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.
- Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle's youth video project included installations at Emerson House and MCA Chicago.
Entities
Artists
- Mark Dion
- Naomi Beckwith
- Sharmaine Hendrix
- Nynier Hodge
- Tresnita Ivy
- Catherine Mach
- Dionne Emiko Mason
- Charmaine Morgan
- Muneerah Muhammad
- Claudia Travis
- Karlyn Westover
- Jerry Winners
- Kazumi Yoshinaga
- Lisa Langken
- Paul Adams
- Cheryl McWorter
- Kate Ericson
- Mel Ziegler
- Arrie Martin
- Elois Smith
- Brenda Bolden
- Iretha Ford
- Loretta Lacy
- Simon Grennan
- Christopher Sperandio
- Dorothy Barksdale
- Richard Bowens
- Leroy Brown
- Barbara Fleming
- Artemio Gil
- Martina Herrara
- Louis Mason
- Minnie Mitchell
- Willie Rias
- Mary Ross
- Thelma Smith
- Regina Williamson
- Jethro Head
- Richard House
- Wendy Jacob
- Laurie Palmer
- John Ploof
- Tony Alioto
- Terry Amidei
- Kristin Appelhof
- Jennifer Bartlett
- Jeff Black
- Valerie Brodar
- Kerryn Brunsting
- Chris Campbell
- Suzanne Flemens
- Paul Garklavs
- Bob Gonzales
- Chris Hanson
- Bob Hewitt
- Jennifer Jankauskas
- Zach Jennings
- Diane Kelley
- George Levin
- Liang Lu
- Carla Mayer
- Kevin Nevills
- Caroline O'Boyle
- Jodi Osterreicher
- Kelly Pierce
- Amy Reichart
- Bob Schultz
- Rachel Selekman
- Hendrika Sonnenberg
- Derek Stroup
- Beth Turk
- Miwako Watanuki
- Kurt Weston
- Suzanne Lacy
- Diane Chandler
- Amina J. Dikerson
- Joyce Fernandes
- Nancy Flay
- Stephanie Fogg
- Sandra Furey
- Michelle Gazzola
- Camille Gerstel
- Juana Guzman
- Ronne Hartfield
- Sharon Irish
- Mary Ann Johnson
- Barbara Kensey
- Kanta Khipple
- Grace Lai
- Susan Larson
- Juju Lien
- Virginia Martinez
- Esther Parada
- Marianne Philbin
- Kavita Ramdas
- Eunita Rushing
- Jane Saks
- Ann E. Smith
- JoAnne Stone-Geier
- Janet Treuhaft
- Thelma Tucker
- Manny Tueter
- Cheryl Yuen
- Mary McGall
- Tali Simon
- Ericha Ahlschier
- Shalona Byrd
- Tracy Hudak
- Mary Zerkel
- Michelle Baughan
- Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle
- Miguel Boyas
- Larissa Burgos
- Jasmin Cardona
- Veronica Cardona
- Heriberto Carrion
- Mike Cruz
- Elbert De Luna
- Jose Delcid
- Wilfredo Gines
- Natalie Miranda
- Maria Ocasio
- Anthony Oliver
- Miguel Oliver
- Edith Pauley
- Ronnie Pauley
- Alfonso Soto
- Olga Soto
- James Tavenner
- Ken Turner
- Luis Vega
- Miriam Vega
- Nilda Ruiz Pauley
- Maria Suarez
- Paul Teruel
- Troy Winston
- Daniel J. Martinez
- VinZula Kara
- Angela Coleman
- Elvia Rodriguez
- Robert Peters
Institutions
- Afterall
- Sculpture Chicago
- Chicago Urban Ecology Action Group
- Providence St Mel High School
- Lincoln Park High School Dance Program
- Chicago Housing Authority
- Ogden Courts
- Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers' International Union of America
- Local 552
- Nestlé
- Haha
- Flood: A Volunteer Network for Active Participation in Healthcare
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
- Street-Level Video
- Westtown Vecinos Video Channel
- Emerson House Community Center
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
- Community TV Network
- African American Arts Alliance
- Aguijon II Theater
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Austin High School
- Cardenas School
- Cash Money
- Cooper School
- de la Cruz School
- Erie Neighborhood House
- Farragut School
- Henry Booth House
- Henry Horner Boys & Girls Club
- Jungman School
- Make-up Boys
- Marshall High School Band
- New Sounds
- Phi Beta Sigma
- IOTA Chapter
- Pros Arts Studio
- Redmoon Theater
- Salazar Elementary School
- Shango Temple
- Spray Brigade
- Suder School
- Taller Mexicano de Grabado
- Temporary Juvenile Detention Center
- WGCI Dance Troupe
- Whitney M. Young School
- Urban Life Center
- Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture
- Resource Center
- Chicago Transit Authority
- Chicago Cultural Center
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Lincoln Park
- Franklin Park
- Rogers Park
- 1769 West Greenleaf Avenue
- Loop
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
- 645 North Wood Street
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
- West Erie Street
- Paulina Street
- Wood Street
- West 14th Place
- South Peoria Street
- Maxwell Street Market
- Chicago Cultural Center
Sources
- Afterall —