Temporary Exhibitions
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Temporary Exhibitions
What will my students see?
Field trips consist of self-guided visits to all of the exhibitions on display at the time of your visit. We encourage you to explore the Museum at your own pace and take advantage of student-friendly activities throughout our galleries.
Catholic Chicago
March 8, 2008 through January 4, 2009
Explore the little-known history of Chicago’s largest religious community and its influence on education, architecture, social activism, and city traditions. The exhibition features original stained glass, paintings, historic documents, film footage, and interviews.
Big Picture: A New View of Painting in Chicago
October 20, 2007 through August 3, 2008
Discover Chicago’s artistic personality in this fresh, provocative look at painting in the Windy City. Big Picture explores the relationship between Chicago’s art and its landscape; our often-forgotten contributions to American abstraction; and the city’s enduring interest in the figure. To give students rare access to the art and its creators, several works will be displayed to reveal their backs.
Quilts: A Patchwork History
Closed March 23, 2008
Representing nearly a century of quilt making, the pieces in this gallery attest to the power of quilts to be many things—visual experience, technical masterpiece, family legacy, and an expression of personal history.
Is It Real?
Closed January 6, 2008
Discover how museums determine whether or not artifacts are "real." Explore authenticity by stepping in Abraham Lincoln’s footprints and looking through his spectacles. Put on a lab coat to help solve an historic crime.
Mapping Chicago: The Past and The Possible
Closed January 6, 2008
Maps inspire imagination. Experience the past and envision the future in this extraordinary exhibition. Discover how to transform a map into a globe. Enjoy artwork made by kids from across the city, and explore maps at our newest History à la Cart station.