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MCA Hearts Chicago

About

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the MCA’s founding, we’re celebrating our city and the role contemporary museums play in fostering creative connections and communities with a weekend-long event. Enjoy free admission and join preeminent Chicago artists from a range of disciplines to pay homage to the past, celebrate the present, and pave the way for the future.

The event launches the museum's new community space, the Commons, and is also marked by a museum-wide landmark exhibition—organized collaboratively by three of the museum's visual arts curators—that highlights the museum's permanent collection of art from 1945 to today.

MCA Hearts Chicago is co-organized by MCA Chicago and No Small Plans Productions.

Schedule

SATURDAY (10 am–11 pm)

10 am Lykanthea (PLAZA)

11 am Opening Ceremony, with the Chicago Children’s Choir (PLAZA)

Noon–2 pm Lou Mallozzi with Fred Schmalz, Tracking Shots (PERIMETER OF BUILDING)

12:15 pm Liz McCarthy, Whistle Hang Out (ATRIUM and STAIRS)

1 pm CHI Voices Flash Talk: Cheryl Lynn Bruce (4TH-FLOOR GALLERY)

1–3 pm Family Nook and Story Time with Drag Queens featuring Muffy Fishbasket (TERRACE)

1:30 pm CHI Voices Flash Talk: Ana Paula Ruiz Galindo and Mecky Reuss (THE COMMONS)

2 pm Participatory Music Coalition (ATRIUM)

3 pm South Shore Drill Team (PLAZA —> ATRIUM —> TERRACE)

3:30 pm Cake is served! Artist-designed cakes created by Bon Vivant Cakes (TERRACE)

4:15 pm CHI Voices Flash Talk: Chris Jones (2ND-FLOOR GALLERY)

Passes are available starting at 3 pm at the Box Office

5:30 pm CHI Voices Flash Talk: Billy Corgan (4TH-FLOOR GALLERY)

Featuring DJ caliXta of CumbioSazo!, theMIND, Kaycee Ortiz, and Lupe Fiasco with DJ Double-O

Recount Chicago’s musical history in an immersive dance party with Kiara Lanier and Dj Duane Powell.

*Atrium access is by pre-reserved free ticket for these performances. Ticket holders enter Atrium through Plaza steps. Tickets are currently sold out. Atrium reopens to the public at 9:30 pm for the dance party.

Ongoing Events

SUNDAY (10 am–5 pm)

RSVP with names of attendees

11 am Screening: Nobody’s Here but Me (THEATER)

11 am Conversation with Collectors: Larry Fields with Omar Kholeif, MCA Senior Curator and Director of Global Initiatives

11:15 am We Are Here tour with exhibition curator Omar Kholeif

11:30 am Young Chicago Authors Pop-Up (GALLERIES)

11:45 am Conversation with Collectors: Cari Sacks with Omar Kholeif, MCA Senior Curator and Director of Global Initiatives

Noon Michael Rakowitz, Enemy Kitchen (PLAZA)

12:30 pm Behind "the Stage" Tour with Yolanda Cesta Cursach, Curator of Performance (4TH-FLOOR LOBBY and BACKSTAGE)

12:30, 2, and 3:30 pm Brendan Fernandes, Art by Snapchat

1 pm Aaron Hughes, Tea Performance (PLAZA)

1 pm Screening: Burden (THEATER)

1 pm Conversation with Collectors: Marjorie Susman with Jose Esparza Chong Cuy, Pamela Alper Associate Curator

1:30–4 pm Teen Creative Agency: MCA 100 (LAKE VIEW ROOM)

1:30 pm Young Chicago Authors Pop-Up (GALLERIES)

1:30 pm We Are Here tour with exhibition curator Jose Esparza Chong Cuy

2 pm Conversation with Collectors: Daryl Stokols with Naomi Beckwith, Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator

2:15 pm We Are Here tour with exhibition curator Naomi Beckwith

2:30 pm Behind "the Stage" Tour with Tara Aisha Willis, Associate Curator of Performance (4TH-FLOOR LOBBY and BACKSTAGE)

3 pm Screening: Hairy Who & the Chicago Imagists (THEATER)

3 pm Conversation with Collectors: Sylvia Neil with Heidi Reitmaier, Dr. Robert Nathan Mayer Director of Education

3:30 pm Young Chicago Authors Pop-Up (GALLERIES)

3:30 pm To the Racy Brink tour with exhibition curator Lynne Warren

Ongoing Events

MCA Stories

Events are subject to change

Lupe Fiasco

Photo: Jack McKain

Funding

Generous funding for MCA ♥ Chicago is provided by Kenneth C. Griffin.

Lead support is provided by Helen and Sam Zell, R. H. Defares, Anne L. Kaplan, Cari and Michael Sacks, Liz and Eric Lefkofsky, The Bluhm Family Foundation, Nancy and Steve Crown, Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson, Caryn and King Harris, Kovler Family Foundation, The Bellick Family, Marlene Breslow-Blitstein and Berle Blitstein, Elissa Efroymson and Adnaan Hamid, Lois and Steve Eisen and The Eisen Family Foundation, Marilyn and Larry Fields, Stephanie and John Harris, Carol Prins and John Hart/The Jessica Fund, and Barbara Bluhm-Kaul and Don Kaul.

Major support is provided by Nancy and Nicholas Giampietro and Ambassador Louis and Marjorie Susman.

Generous support is provided by Sara Albrecht, Cynthia Hunt and Philip Rudolph, Vicki and Bill Hood, BMO Harris Bank, Citi Private Bank, the Duchossois Family Foundation, Anne and John Kern, Susan and Lew Manilow, Marquis D. Miller and Pamela Buchanan Miller, Rebecca W. Knight and Lester B. Knight, The Malkin Family, Carol and John Winzeler, Maria C. Bechily and Scott Hodes, Meta S. and Ronald Berger Family Foundation, Laura De Ferrari and Marshall B. Front, Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel, and Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors.

Special thanks to Bank of America for underwriting free admission for our 50th Anniversary Weekend.

Partner

Lyft promotion

Lyft is the official rideshare partner for MCA Hearts Chicago. Take advantage of the celebratory promotion and receive 20% off 2 rides to or from the MCA over the weekend of Oct 21–22. Promo code: MCA50TH