Herbert Bayer’s “Kaleidoscreen” installed in Aspen, Colorado, circa 1957. Herbert Bayer Collection and Archive, Denver Art Museum/Photograph courtesy Denver Art Museum.
1 Someoddpilot: Space Becomes You (Public Works Gallery) Who are you? Why are you here? The design studio’s debut capsule collection and immersive art exhibition is a photography book, a gender-neutral apparel line and a short film to answer questions such as how to make sense of your place in the universe. (Through February 22)
2 Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America (Milwaukee Art Museum) Last chance to visit the exhibition bringing together more than forty designers to explore “playful design” in midcentury America through a range of media including furniture, toys, textiles, films, posters and ceramics. (Through January 6)
3 Keep Moving: Designing Chicago’s Bicycle Culture (Design Museum of Chicago) Chicago was the nation’s center for bicycle manufacturing, producing more than two million bikes in 1897, more than two-thirds of the bikes made in the U. S. “Keep Moving” looks at Chicago’s contribution to the early popularity of bicycles in America. (Through February 15)
4 Tour of the Chicago Cultural Center (Chicago Cultural Center) Look up at the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome, walk on the highly elaborate marble-mosaic floors and attend one of the free public events and exhibitions (art shows, music concerts, films, lectures, craft markets) during a free, guided architectural tour of one of the city’s top attractions. (Wednesday-Saturday, 1:15pm)
5 Handmade Market Chicago (Empty Bottle) A relaxed shopping experience within one of the city’s most prominent indie music venues features affordable, unique items handmade by local emerging artists, designers, makers and all-around creative small business owners—an opportunity to shop small and support our craft community. (January 12, 27)
Greek-born Vasia Rigou is a journalist, editor and multimedia content producer largely on the subjects of visual art, culture, architecture and design. She currently serves as an Editor at Newcity, Chicago’s leading culture publication, as Writer and Copy Editor at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) HQ, and regularly contributes to international architecture and design magazines OnOffice and ICON. She has experience creating content for brands and building conference speeches and influential TEDx talks. Simply put: she’s fascinated by finding out the great stories behind the people, places and objects that surround us, and by sharing those stories with the world. When she’s not writing about art or looking at art—wine in hand—she makes lists for pretty much everything, drinks immense amounts of coffee and takes cross-country road trips every chance she gets.
