Join us for a special reception and talk with Ellen Harvey on The Disappointed Tourist, currently on view at the CAC.
Artist Talk & Reception: Ellen Harvey
Ellen Harvey standing in front of The Disappointed Tourist exhibit. Photo courtesy of Ellen Harvey.
Don't miss this special reception and talk with Ellen Harvey—the British-born, Brooklyn-based conceptual artist behind The Disappointed Tourist, currently on view at the CAC.
In her talk, Ellen will shed light on the process and intent of this ongoing crowdsourced project to paint buildings and sites no longer with us—pieces of our towns and cities lost but not forgotten. With submissions from over 30 countries and several new Chicago-specific works commissioned for this exhibition, each painting is reminiscent of an old postcard, evoking themes of nostalgia and love for our built environment. Ellen will share some of the individual stories and recollections that animate the exhibition’s tapestry of 300+ paintings and draw connections to some of her other participatory works like Utopia Machine and The Alien Souvenir Stand. CAC Senior Director of Exhibitions Eve Fineman will also join Ellen for a short curator’s conversation.
Following the talk, guests are invited to visit or revisit The Disappointed Tourist in the Skyscraper Gallery and enjoy a reception with drinks and bites.
About the artist
Ellen Harvey is a British-born, Brooklyn-based conceptual artist whose work ranges from guerrilla street interventions such as her iconic New York Beautification Project for which she painted miniature landscapes over New York’s graffiti sites to immersive institutional installations and large-scale public artworks.
Her work is often painting-based but utilizes a wide variety of media and participatory strategies to explore several recurring themes such as the social and ecological implications of the picturesque, the revolutionary potential of nostalgia, the conflict between advertising and ornament in public space and the relationship between art and tourism. Her work frequently centers the viewer and involves direct participation by the public.
Want to experience the exhibition in a whole new way?
Return to the CAC on Saturday, January 17 for a unique, interactive “Mourning Procession” performed by Ellen’s friend and noted New York-based artist Dannielle Tegeder of the collective Hilma’s Ghost.
Participants will have the opportunity to mourn their own lost places, shrouding the exhibition in black and performing rituals to honor their losses. This activity is free with registration.
