Jump to content

Top 10 Memories: Julie Rodrigues-Widholm

Pedro Reyes, Leverage, 2006, Steel and powder-coated paint, 19 ½ x 31 ½ x 3 ½ ft., Courtesy of the artist and Yvon Lambert, New York/Paris, Installation view, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Photo: Michael David Rose, © MCA Chicago

Last week we had to say farewell to our valued colleague Julie Rodrigues-Widholm, who ended her 16-year tenure with the MCA to become the director of the DePaul Art Museum. Before Julie moved on to her new role, we ask her to share some her most memorable moments working at the MCA.

1. Escultura Social

In 2007, Pablo Helguera's musical performance at the opening of Escultura Social and presentation of the “Panamerican Address of the People of Chicago,” Los Super Elegantes' Dance Painting, and riding Pedro Reyes's Leverage (a giant red see-saw in the galleries)

2. Tropicalia

In October 2005, live parrots in the galleries and dancing to samba music at the Tropicalia opening one week before having my first child

Installation view, Tropicalia, MCA Chicago, 2005

Photo: Michal Raz-Russo, © MCA Chicago

Tropicalia gala, October 2005

Photo: Michal Raz-Russo, © MCA Chicago

3. Brad Pitt

Almost riding the elevator with Brad Pitt when he was here to see Lee Bontecou’s exhibition

4. Cubs game

Rashid Johnson throwing the first pitch at a Cubs Game and seeing “Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago” on the scoreboard

Top 10 Memories: Julie Rodrigues-Widholm video still

Video

5. Cauleen Smith and the South Shore Drill Team

The South Shore Drill Team performing as Cauleen Smith’s Solar Flare Arkestral Marching Band in the museum’s atrium with the TCA wearing her custom capes

© MCA Chicago

TCA Members with Cauleen Smith, 2012

Photo © MCA Chicago

6. Rudolf Stingel

Rudolf Stingel's orange carpet painting covering the 4th-floor lobby as part of Francesco Bonami's Universal Experience exhibition and Stingel covering up the walls of the atrium in foil during his solo exhibition

Installation view, Universal Experience, 2005

Photo © MCA Chicago

Installation view, Rudolph Stingel, MCA Chicago, 2007

Photo: Michael David Rose, © MCA Chicago

7. A meat chair

Jana Sterbak’s meat chair

8. Ed Ruscha

Meeting Ed Ruscha after his lecture with Dave Hickey

9. Richard Tuttle

Watching Richard Tuttle install his exhibition in his magic way

Stacks of folded white polo shirts are pierced by vertical metal rods.

Installation view, Doris Salcedo Studio, Bogotá, 2013

Photo: Oscar Monsalve Pino

number ten

Visiting Doris Salcedo’s studio in Bogotá