Zhegagoynak, the place now known as Chicagoland, has long been a vital center for Indigenous art. This winter, The Block will celebrate the region’s Indigenous creativity with a major exhibition, Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland (January 25-July 13, 2025).
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The Block Museum is excited to announce the Collection Council’s acquisition of four new works for its permanent collection. These selections—two photographs by Tom Jones and two by Widline Cadet—align with the museum’s new strategic plan, which emphasizes collections-based teaching, interdisciplinary learning, and campus partnerships.
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One Book One Northwestern is an annual university-wide reading initiative that aims to generate a campus-wide conversation centered around a thought-provoking book. The 2024-2025 One Book selection is Louise Edrich’s 2020 novel The Night Watchman. Each year, The Block partners with One Book to select and compile works from the permanent collection that connect to […]
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On October 23, 2024, The Block Museum of Art hosted a conversation between artist Federico Solmi and Ozge Samanci, Associate Professor in the School of Communication, moderated by exhibition curator Janet Dees. The evening highlighted Solmi’s immersive installation, “The Great Farce,” an intense, satirical exploration of power and historical narratives, on display at the museum. […]
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The Block was honored to welcome photographer Bev Grant to campus in October 2024 to celebrate the exhibition Dissident Sisters: Bev Grant and Feminist Activism, 1968–72. Two members of the Block Museum Student Associates, Tori Montinola and Ann Gaither, share their reflections on their time with the artist-activist. Tori Montinola (English and History ’27) on […]
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Lisa Corrin, Ellen Philips Katz Executive Director of The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Peters ’93 (’23 P), trustee, and Kim Vigue to the museum’s Board of Advisors. Both bring a wealth of experience in the arts and public service, furthering the museum’s mission as […]
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The Block Museum of Art is happy to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Block Museum Student Associates (BMSAs). The BMSAs serve as public facilitators, peer-to-peer ambassadors for the museum on campus, and in-house student advisors for all levels of museum staff and our Board of Advisors. They lead tours throughout the museum and engage our […]
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Despite the current exhibition of her photography at the Block, Bev Grant remains conflicted about being described as an artist. “The artistic eye which informed what I shot and how I framed it belongs to me,” she acknowledges, but “in fact, I took these photos mostly as part of my activism.” On October 9th, to […]
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On a sunny afternoon in late August, 16 people gathered in the grass of Northwestern’s sculpture garden to make a film. A cohort that included Northwestern faculty, Chicagoland graduate students, and analog film fanatics of all varieties, they came armed with 600 feet of 16mm film, film processing supplies, film splicers and tape, an array […]
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On the occasion of The Block’s presentation of The Great Farce, exhibition curator Janet Dees, sat down with artist Federico Solmi to discuss the creation and context of his work. What inspired you to make The Great Farce? I started working on this piece in 2016. When I came to America from Italy in 1999, […]
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