Art Connects Us, Volume 31

A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), our community has responded to the current moment as true citizen artists.

Our community's work demonstrates a belief in our interconnectedness as people and our shared responsibility to make positive change. Below you’ll find just a few of the stories that build our optimism, reignite our passion, and fill us with hope for the future.

Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
Volume 9
Volume 10
Volume 11
Volume 12
Volume 13
Volume 14
Volume 15
Volume 16
Volume 17
Volume 18
Volume 19
Volume 20
Volume 21
Volume 22
Volume 23
Volume 24
Volume 25
Volume 26
Volume 27
Volume 28
Volume 29
Volume 30

A gallery image of the exhibition Promise, Witness, Remembrance — The entrance to Promise, Witness, Remembrance. Photo courtesy of Bill Roughen

Alum Allison Glenn and the Power of Listening
For alum Allison Glenn (Dual MA 2012), the art of curation is about collaboration. So, when she was asked to helm an exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky, honoring the life of Breonna Taylor, Glenn knew what she needed to do: listen. Glenn spoke with SAIC about the process for bringing the exhibition to life, the powerful role that Taylor’s mother played in its development, and why community partnership is so essential for a curator. read more

Three men sit at couches and compose a song on the guitar — CreatiVets songwriting session. Photo courtesy of CreatiVets

Alum and Iraq War Veteran Richard Casper Helps Heal Veterans with Art and Music
After serving in the Marines, alum Richard Casper (BFA 2012) founded the nonprofit organization CreatiVets to help wounded veterans heal with art and music. Through his work, Casper encourages wounded veterans and their family members to communicate their stories through song. “There’s a sense of comfort in knowing that [veterans] have their song that tells a story about them,” shared Casper. read more

An image of flowers painted on a fence — Photograph of a mural by Emma Baker-Terhaar. Image courtesy of Emma Baker-Terhaar

Student Emma Baker-Terhaar Transforms Her Neighborhood Through Art
This summer, Student Emma Baker-Terhaar (BFA 2023) is turning fences and garages into colorful art pieces around her hometown. Baker-Terhaar started this series of works by painting a piece for her mom two summers ago, but now she’s completed dozens of personalized projects for her neighbors. read more

An artist sits in in her studio in front of brightly colored paintings — Artist Cataphant sitting in front of her paintings. Photograph courtesy of The San Diego Union-Tribune

Alum Cataphant Discusses Mental Health in New Gallery Show
In her show All My Thoughts Multiply, alum Cataphant (BFA 2011) opens up about her mental health struggles. Cataphant suffers from bipolar disorder and severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and she illustrates her experience in vivid paintings in the hopes of connecting with others. “It’s one thing to make work that is intimately about my story, but it’s another thing to connect with other people over the things that I go through,” she shared. read more

April 2024: Faculty and Staff Accomplishments