Grammy Award–nominated, New York Times–bestselling author David Sedaris, an alumnus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), addressed the audience at the Literary Lions Luncheon today. SAIC faculty member Rachel Weiss, Professor in the Arts Administration and Policy department, received the Jean Goldman Book Prize at the luncheon. Held at the elegant downtown club the Casino, the event was hosted by Walter E. Massey, President, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Douglas Druick, President and Eloise W. Martin Director, Art Institute of Chicago.
Sixty-five guests enjoyed remarks from Sedaris and Weiss and received books from both authors. Weiss was awarded the prize for her work co-editing Making Art Global (Part 1). A six-member jury of individuals from art museums and cultural institutions selected the book, which explores how the Third Havana Biennial of 1989 extended the global territory of contemporary art and redefined the biennial model. The prize was created to raise local and national awareness of the outstanding SAIC faculty, and to establish a fund supporting faculty research grants.
“Today would not be possible without the vision of Art Institute of Chicago Life Trustee Dr. Jean Goldman,” said Walter Massey, who opened the luncheon and introduced Sedaris. “Herself an art historian, author, scholar, and former instructor at the school for twenty years, Jean recognizes the importance of the contributions our faculty members regularly make to arts literature, research, and scholarship.”
“Thanks to Jean Goldman, first of all, for her support of the scholarly work that my colleagues and I are doing at the school. There’s an incredible diversity of practices at SAIC, and it means a lot to have my own little corner singled out for recognition,” said Rachel Weiss upon receiving the prize. “And equally, my thanks to my colleagues and students. All of my thinking, and all the writing, gets formed in the process of the work that we all do together. Everything that goes on the page gets tested in the classroom first.”
Net proceeds from the Literary Lions Luncheon support the SAIC Literary Lions Fund to provide institutional grants for SAIC faculty research. To make a donation to the Literary Lions Fund, please call 312.499.4190 or contact givetosaic@saic.edu.
About Jean Goldman
Dr. Goldman, a philanthropist as well as a former faculty member at SAIC, is a noted art historian with a specialty in Old Master drawings. She has published on the topic of 16th- and 17th-century Italian drawings, a cornerstone of the Goldmans’ personal collection. She has lectured at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, and SAIC. Her deep commitment to the arts in Chicago is further evidenced by her numerous leadership roles at the Art Institute of Chicago, including the Board of Trustees and the Woman’s Board. She is an honorary lifetime member of the museum’s Old Masters Society and also sits on the advisory committees to Prints and Drawings and European Painting.
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, SAIC offers nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees and post-baccalaureate programs to nearly 3,200 students from around the globe. SAIC also enables adults, high school students, middle school students, and children to flourish in a variety of courses, workshops, certificate programs, and camps through its Continuing Studies program. Located in the heart of Chicago, SAIC has an educational philosophy built upon an interdisciplinary approach to art and design, giving students unparalleled opportunities to develop their creative and critical abilities, while working with renowned faculty who include many of the leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its new Modern Wing; numerous special collections and programming venues provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances.
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SAIC President Walter Massey, Jean Goldman, David Sedaris (BFA 1989), Rachel Weiss, and Art Institute of Chicago President and Eloise W. Martin Director Douglas Druick at the SAIC Literary Lions Luncheon. Photo: Sara Condo
