Chicago Architecture Biennial: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|International architectural exhibition}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox recurring event

|name =

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|logo =

|logo_alt =

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|image = Chicago Bienniel.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|alt = Neoclassical cultural center exterior

|caption = Chicago Cultural Center during the first Chicago Architecture Biennial

|status = Active

|genre = Architecture exhibition

|dates = September–January

|frequency = Biennially

|venue = [[Chicago Cultural Center]]

|location = Chicago

|coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|type:event|display=inline,title}} -->

|country =

|years_active = {{age|2014|06|01}}

|founded = 2014

|founder_name = <!-- or | founders = -->

|last = <!-- Date of most recent event; if the event will not be held again, use {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->

|prev =

|next = 2023

|participants = International, invited architects

|attendance = 500,000 – 550,000

|capacity =

|area =

|budget =

|activity =

|leader_name =

|patron = [[American Institute of Architects]]; [[Chicago Architecture Foundation]]; various public and private corporations and foundations

|organised = Chicago Architecture Biennial, Inc.

|filing =

|people =

|member =

|sponsor = City of Chicago; [[The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts]]

|website = {{url|chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org}}

|current =

|footnotes =

}}

The '''Chicago Architecture Biennial''' is an international exhibition of [[architectural]] ideas, projects and displays. It seeks "to provide a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/about/|title=About|work=chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Julie V.|last1=Iovine|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial Review|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/chicago-architecture-biennial-review-1445291634|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date =October 19, 2015|issn=0099-9660|access-date=26 October 2015}}</ref> Founded in 2014, the biennial is managed by a charitable corporation under the auspices of the city's Cultural Affairs department, and sponsored by public and private organizations and individuals.

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The first of its kind in North America, the inaugural iteration of the biennale took place in [[Chicago]] between October, 2015 and January, 2016, and was headquartered at the [[Chicago Cultural Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2015/09/150921-Chicago-Architecture-Biennial-Preview.asp|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial Preview|author= Mortice, Zach|date=September 21, 2015|work=Architectural Record}}</ref> Its first directors were Sarah Herda and [[Joseph Grima (architect)|Joseph Grima]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Woman Making Chicago America's Architectural Epicenter (Again) |url=https://metropolismag.com/profiles/sarah-herda-chicago-america-architecture-epicenter/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Metropolis |language=en-US}}</ref>

The event was championed by then-mayor [[Rahm Emanuel]] who told the ''Financial Times'': "This biennial is an ode to the city's past and an echo to our future."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/fc5fbae6-735c-11e5-a129-3fcc4f641d98|title=Chicago Broadens Its Horizons|last=Financial Times|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> The 2015-16 biennial had entries from 104 architects or practices. The exhibitors were invitees, many from North America and Europe, but also from Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, and South Korea. The theme of this biennial was ''The State of the Art of Architecture''.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/t-magazine/chicago-architecture-biennial-highlights.html?_r=0 | title=Four Picks From the Chicago Architecture Biennial | work=New York Times | date=October 6, 2015 | access-date=October 27, 2015 | author=Hruska, Jordan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://architectureau.com/articles/chicago-architecture-biennial-2015/|title=Signs for the times: Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015|author= Balch, Nicola|date=October 19, 2015|work=ArchitectureAU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-biennial-attendance-kamin-met-1007-20151006-column.html|title=Chicago Architectural Biennial draws crowds, mixed reviews|author=Kamin, Blair|date=October 6, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2015/oct/05/chicago-architecture-biennial-a-mecca-for-building-buffs|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial secures the city's place as a mecca for building buffs|author=Wainwright, Oliver|date=October 5, 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archdaily.com/774876/15-must-see-installations-at-the-chicago-architecture-biennial|title=15 Must-See Installations at the Chicago Architecture Biennial|author=AD Editorial Team|date=October 8, 2015|work=ArchDaily}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archdaily.com/774970/critical-round-up-chicago-architecture-biennial|title=Critics Take On "The State of the Art of Architecture" in Chicago|author=Lynch, Patrick|date= October 9, 2015|work=ArchDaily}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/architecture/chicago-architecture-biennial-plays-host-to-a-sprawling-exhibition-of-ideas/article26957153/|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial plays host to a sprawling exhibition of ideas| author=Bozikovic, Alex|date=October 29, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-chicago-architecture-biennial-20151011-column.html|title=In Chicago, an ambitious biennial for architecture banishes the stars and anoints a new generation|author=Hawthorne, Christopher|date=October 9, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/chicago-city-of-skyscrapers-mies-van-der-rohe-and-now-an-architectural-biennial-a6679841.html|title=Chicago: City of skyscrapers, Mies Van Der Rohe, and now an Architectural Biennial|author=Beanland, Christopher |date=October 5, 2015|work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metropolismag.com/Point-of-View/October-2015/10-Highlights-from-The-Chicago-Architecture-Biennial/|title=10 Highlights from the Chicago Architecture Biennial|author=Mortice, Zach|date=October 6, 2015|work=metropolismag.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fc5fbae6-735c-11e5-a129-3fcc4f641d98.html | title=Chicago broadens its horizons with architecture biennial | work=Financial Times | date=October 29, 2015 | access-date=October 30, 2015 | author=Heathcote, Edwin}}</ref> The title of the first biennial originates from a 1977 conference organized by Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman, which invited leading American designers to Chicago to discuss the current state of the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/about/press/press-releases/inaugural-chicago-architecture-biennial-attracts-over-half-a-million-visitors-in-2015//|title=Inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial attracts over half a million visitors in 2015|work=chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org|access-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032938/http://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/about/press/press-releases/inaugural-chicago-architecture-biennial-attracts-over-half-a-million-visitors-in-2015//|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first biennial announced it had more than 500,000 visitors, and plans for its return in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-architecture-biennial-attendance-0107-20160106-story.html|title=Chicago architecture biennial attendance figures released|author=Kamin, Blair|date=January 6, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-launches-its-first-architecture-biennial|title=Chicago launches its first Architecture Biennial |date=January 3, 2016|work=cbsnews.com|access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref>

The second iteration was in 2017 with the theme ''Make New History'', and ran from September 16, 2017, through January 7, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/sep/24/chicago-architecture-biennial-2017-review |title=Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017: how to improve on history |last=Moore |first=Rowan |date=2017-09-24 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2017-10-01 |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.archdaily.com/879752/15-must-see-installations-at-the-2017-chicago-architecture-biennial |title=15 Must-See Installations at the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial |date=2017-09-22 |work=ArchDaily |access-date=2017-12-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> The lead curators were Mark Lee and Sharon Johnson of Johnson Marklee. Associate curators include Sarah Hearne and Letizia Garzoli. The opening coincided with [[EXPO Chicago]], the international contemporary art fair.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2016-12-11|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial announces 2017 artistic directors|url=https://archpaper.com/2016/09/chicago-architecture-biennial-artistic-directors/|website=Architects Newspaper}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Johnston Marklee tackle the “tyranny of newness” in 2017's Chicago Architecture Biennial|url=http://archinect.com/features/article/149997746/johnston-marklee-tackle-the-tyranny-of-newness-in-2017-s-chicago-architecture-biennial|newspaper=Archinect}}</ref> More than 100 architectural practices from the Americas, Asia and Europe were selected to participate.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2017-04-17|title=Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017 participants announced|url=https://archpaper.com/2017/03/chicago-architecture-biennial-2017-participants/|website=The Architect's Newspaper}}</ref> In addition to the main site at the Cultural Center, the biennial partnered with the [[Chicago Community Trust]] to hold 2017 events at six satellite locations in other parts of Chicago: The Beverly Arts Center, DePaul Art Museum, [[DuSable Museum of African American History]], Hyde Park Art Center, the [[National Museum of Mexican Art]], and the [[National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archinect.com/news/article/150002862/the-chicago-architecture-biennial-to-partner-with-six-museums-and-institutions-to-get-visitors-to-explore-beyond-downtown-chicago|title=The Chicago Architecture Biennial to partner with six museums and institutions to get visitors to explore beyond downtown Chicago|work=Archinect|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> The second biennial drew a crowd of 550,000 and dates for a third biennial beginning in September 2019 were announced.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.wlsam.com/2018/01/16/chicago-says-architecture-event-drew-550k-participants/ |title=Chicago says architecture event drew 550K participants |date=2018-01-16 |work=WLS-AM 890 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=2018-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The third biennial, under the title ''. . . And Other Such Stories'', explores the circumstances that make the urban architectural environment. Its lead curator was [[Yesomi Umolu]], and it was co-curated by Sepake Angiama and Paulo Tavares.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archdaily.com/923233/the-third-chicago-architecture-biennial-announces-its-2019-program |title=The Third Chicago Architecture Biennial Announces its 2019 Program |last=Harrouk |first=Christele |date=2019-08-27 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>

It was open to the public from September 19, 2019, to January 5, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/news/chicago_architecture_biennial_opens_to_the_public_on_thursday_september_19_2019 |title=Chicago Architecture Biennial Opens to the Public on Thursday, September 19 |website=Chicago Architecture Biennial |language=en-US |access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>

The exposition features over 80 contributors from more than 20 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.artnews.com/2019/05/23/heres-the-contributor-list-for-the-2019-chicago-architecture-biennial/ |title=Here’s the Contributor List for the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial |website=ARTNews |language=en-US |access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>

The third iteration of the biennial focused on four main themes: land and belonging, architecture and memory, rights and advocacy, and collaboration and discussion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/9/20/20873010/chicago-architecture-biennial-2019-must-see |title=Chicago Architecture Biennial: 11 things we loved |website=Curbed Chicago |language=en-US |access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> The ''Los Angeles Times'' found the 2019 biennial "eerily prescient" in its examination of contested urban [[land use]] issues at a time of international protest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-11-20/hong-kong-santiago-cities-around-the-world-are-erupting-in-protest-chicago-architecture-biennial |title=Cities around the world are erupting in protest — an architecture biennial examines why |last=Miranda |first=Carolina |date=2019-11-20 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |access-date=2019-11-24}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Architecture in Chicago]]

*[[Chicago Cultural Center]]

*[[EXPO Chicago]]

*[[Venice Biennale]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

*{{Cite book |title=State of the Art of Architecture |date=2015 |publisher=Lars Muller Publishers |isbn=9783037784754 |veditors=Bagnato, Andrea, et al. }}

*{{Cite book |title=Make New History |date=2017 |publisher=Lars Muller Publishers |isbn=9783037785355 |veditors=Johnston, Sharon, et al. }}

*{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1099851544 |title=... And other such stories |publisher=Columbia Books on Architecture and the City |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-941332-54-2 |oclc=1099851544|veditors=Umolu, Yesomi, et al.}}

==External links==

* {{official website|http://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org}}

[[Category:Architecture festivals]]

[[Category:Festivals in Chicago]]

[[Category:Festivals established in 1977]]

[[Category:Architecture in Chicago]]