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Drawn into the World

Images

Sol LeWitt, One-, Two-, Three-, and Four-Part Combinations of Vertical, Horizontal, and Diagonal Left and Right Bands of Color, 1993–94. Gouache on paper; set of 64 sheets, each: 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm). Collection of Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, restricted gift of Alsdorf Foundation, Lindy Bergman, Ann and Bruce Bachmann, Carol and Douglas Cohen, Frances and Thomas Dittmer, Gael Neeson and Stefan T. Edlis, Sandra P. and Jack Guthman, Anne and William J. Hokin, Judith Neisser, Susan and Lewis Manilow, Dr. Paul and Dorie Sternberg, Howard and Donna Stone, Lynn and Allen Turner, Martin E. Zimmerman, Mr. and Mrs. Burton W. Kanter, Ralph and Helyn Goldenberg, and Marcia and Irving Stenn, 1994.13.a–lll

Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago

William Kentridge, Drawing for the film History of the Main Complaint, 1995–96. Gouache and charcoal on paper; 48 x 63 in. (121.9 x 160 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Susan and Lewis Manilow, 2001.34

Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago

About

This first-ever survey of drawings from the MCA Collection charts the rich and varied landscape of the medium and presents many works, which may not conform with what might come to mind when one thinks of drawing. The exhibition highlights the unusual materials—soil, gunpowder, petroleum jelly, dried ficus leaf, among others—that artists have drawn with and drawn upon, along with diverse applications of the medium’s traditional form. A wide range of graphic styles is also featured.

Highlights of the exhibition include a selection of the charcoal sketches South African artist William Kentridge used to create his animated film History of the Main Complaint (1995–96); 64 gouache-on-paper sheets that make up Sol LeWitt's “portable” wall drawing One-, Two-, Three-, and Four-Part Combinations of Vertical, Horizontal, and Diagonal Left and Right Bands of Color (1993–94); and an installation of drawings for projects such as Claes Oldenburg's Mouse Museum—built by MCA preparators for his 1977 exhibition Mouse Museum and Ray Gun Wing—and Max Neuhaus's Sound Installation, as installed in the MCA's former facility.

Drawn into the World features approximately 60 works by artists such as Matthew Barney, Henry Darger, Kerry James Marshall, Ana Mendieta, Ed Paschke, Suellen Rocca, Dieter Roth, Ed Ruscha, Michelle Stuart, Nicola Tyson, and Karl Wirsum.

The exhibition is organized by MCA Curator Lynne Warren.