From the Editor in Chief

In the months since we released the spring issue of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine, so much has changed. We are different. The world is different. As artists and designers driven by the need to make sense of disorder, we’ve responded to incredible challenges, though we know no one has felt the impact of the pandemic and police violence as much as our Black and Brown community members. We know there is so much work to be done.

This issue of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine seeks to tell stories of hope and unity through art. We explore ways of meaning and making under difficult circumstances. While so much is unknown right now, it’s also an invigorating time for new ideas, new practices, and new approaches; we hope you will read this issue and find inspiration for what’s possible in the months and years ahead.

You’ll notice that we’ve taken a new approach to delivering the School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine. When we began planning this issue, we anticipated sharing stories of our community members in the visually rich and engaging printed publication that you’ve come to expect. The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach—it no longer made sense to send magazines to workplaces when many of us are not there or to homes when we’re sanitizing everything we touch. So, this fall, we’re showcasing the projects and passions of our community in this digital issue.

As always, we want to hear from you. Send us your thoughts—what inspires you, what you’re excited about, what you’re hopeful for—to communications@saic.edu.

Scott J. Hendrickson
Vice President, Marketing and Communications