SAIC Community Members Bring Joan Mitchell Foundation’s Centennial Exhibition to Life
In celebration of painter and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) alum Joan Mitchell’s (BFA 1947) centennial and the Joan Mitchell Center’s 10th anniversary, the Joan Mitchell Foundation presents History or Premonition, a group exhibition running through August 30 at the center in New Orleans.
Curated by alums of the center's residency program, artist Josiah Gagosian and SAIC Assistant Professor Nyeema Morgan, the show highlights the lasting influence of Mitchell’s legacy through the work of more than 40 artists. Among them are several SAIC community members: william cordova (BFA 1996), Brittney Leeanne Williams (SAIC 2008–09), Professor jina valentine, Assistant Professor, Adj. Juan Angel Chavez, and Associate Professor Salvador Jiménez-Flores.
SAIC graduate sculpture students Ethan Chan, Te Palandian, Zach Dobbins, and Corey Hegelberg helped install the exhibition. The students worked on uncrating and hanging works, building plinths, and engineering mounts and lighting—and even got to work alongside several of the featured artists.
“The trip to New Orleans was by far the best community experience I’ve had in grad school,” said Chan. “It's been an irreplaceable time to travel with close friends, make new ones and get to experience new art, music, and culture together.”
"After over 30-plus years leading arts institutions in multiple regions, I can safely state that the SAIC students that came to support our exhibition are the some of the most talented and professional graduate students that I have had the pleasure of working with,” said Joan Mitchell Center Interim Director Veronique Le Melle.
