Museum of Contemporary Art

With its traditional take on art, The Art Institute of Chicago might be a Chicago icon, but Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) attracts experimental and provocative exhibits, demonstrating the city can comfortably house both spectrums of art.

Tucked away from the bustling Michigan Avenue, the MCA opened in 1967 and later would host artist Frida Kahlo’s first U.S art show. The museum features a terrace with a lake view, a gift shop with books and DVDs for sale, a café called Pucks and four floors of breakthrough and sometimes titillating art work in the form of paintings, chromatic prints, graphic novels, and audio and visual items.

The contemporary in the title refers to Post-World War II works, anything after 1945 to present day. Visitors won’t see any Monet here, but instead exhibits on modern day photographers, sculptures and sometimes piles of dirt posing as art. Every month the museum focuses on burgeoning local artists in the series UBS 12 x 12: New Artists / New Work, dedicating a small room to these artists’ works. The first and second floors are usually reserved for the larger exhibits and the basement houses a koi pond and a lounge area for patrons to gather their breath.

In addition to art shows, the museum organizes several dance, theatre and music performances each year in its 300-seat theatre. The long running monthly showcase, aptly named First Fridays, occurs the first Friday of every month and gives people a chance to explore the museum after dark while noshing on food and cocktails.

Past exhibits and installations include the popular Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, an in-depth look at album covers and rock star portraits; Andy Warhol/Supernova: Stars, Deaths, Disasters, 1962-1964; and selected pieces from the MCA Collection. Some exhibits run for months to a year, but others endure a shorter lifespan, making them all the more timely.

HelloChicago Tip: Purchase an annual membership to experience the groundbreaking and envelope pushing art first hand.

- by Garin Pirnia, Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Garin Pirnia

Garin was raised on a healthy diet of MTV and Top 40 radio in the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio, but one day found herself going to college in Los Angeles. After getting a writing degree, she somehow landed in Chicago. She's written about art, music, food and general interest for The Onion AV Club, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Innerview, The Wall Street Journal and AOL's music site Spinner.com.