Collection Spotlight

Collection Spotlight: Motion #53, Laura Aguilar

Artist: Laura Aguilar (Chicana, 1959–2018)Title: Motion #53Date: 1999Medium: Gelatin silver printDimensions: 11 x 14 inchesCredit line: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Julie and Lawrence Bernstein Family Art Acquisition Fund Purchase, 2023.3.1. Image copyright of The Estate of Laura Aguilar. The artist Laura Aguilar once said that she felt most comfortable in […]

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Collection Spotlight, Northwestern Learning

Depictions of Intimacy and Repose: Vitoria Monteiro de Carvalho Faria on Block internship installation

As part of her 2023 Block Curatorial Internship Vitoria Monteiro de Carvalho Faria conducted original research within the museum collection. Her investigation into the visual and thematic connections between two prints resulted in an installation in the Block’s conference space. Faria shares the intriguing alignment she curated at the museum. Although separated by 150 years, […]

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Collection Spotlight

Collection Spotlight: The Arabic Alphabet portfolio (1973), Hussein Madi

Artist: Hussein Madi (Lebanese, born 1938)Title: The Arabic Alphabet portfolioDate: 1973Medium: 30 etchings on cotton paperDimensions:  Each 30 x 24.4 cmCredit line: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, gift of Sami Khalifé, M.D. As part of his varied practice, artist Hussein Madi has explored Arabic letters, words, and calligraphy. In The Arabic Alphabet (1973), a portfolio of thirty […]

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Collection Spotlight, Uncategorized

Collection Talk: Will Wilson “Shiprock Disposal Cell, Shiprock, New Mexico, Navajo Nation” (2020) [Video]

Throughout 2020-21 The Block Museum is reflecting on artworks from the collection that explore ideas of excess, consumption, and the environment, and offer an interdisciplinary perspective on the climate crisis. Our project is inspired by The Story of More by Hope Jahren, Northwestern University’s 2021-2022 One Book One Northwestern (OBON) selection. In this online talk, Lois Taylor Biggs, […]

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Collection Spotlight

Collection Spotlight: Pothi Box, Dayanita Singh

Artist: Dayanita Singh (Indian, born 1961)  Title: Pothi Box  Date: 2018  Medium: 30 unbound image cards, teakwood enclosure, and embroidered muslin  Dimensions: 7 7/8 x 6 ½ x 1 in  Credit line: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, gift of Lisa Graziose Corrin […]

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Collection Spotlight

Collection Spotlight: Mexican Street Scene, Miguel Covarrubias

Artist: Miguel Covarrubias (Mexican, 1904–1957)Title: Mexican Street SceneDate: ca. 1940Medium: Lithograph on paperDimensions: 12.7 x 10 inCredit line: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Gift of Anthony and Carolyn Donato, 1997.16 Artist Miguel Covarrubias, who worked also as a writer, curator, and anthropologist, was born and raised in Mexico City. He first moved […]

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Collection Spotlight

Collection Spotlight: Chicago, Ill., Charles Swedlund

Artist: Charles Swedlund (American, born 1935)Title: Chicago,Ill.Date: 1958Medium: Gelatin silver printDimensions: 9 × 5 in.Credit: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, gift of Steve Nordman, 2018.12.2 Photographer Charles Swedlund was a student at the Institute of Design (ID) when he made a series of photographs using Chicago and its inhabitants as subject matter. […]

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