2013 Temporary Exhibit at Millennium Park, “Legends, Myths and Truths”

Opening Reception of Jun Kaneko’s exhibition, “Legends, Myths and Truths”

Above Image: World renowned artist Jun Kaneko, Donna La Pietra [Co-Chairman of Millennium Park Inc.] and
Lucas Cowan [Director of Public Art at Maryland State Arts Council, and senior curator of exhibitions and special projects for Millennium Park]

Legends, Myths and Truths – by Jun Kaneko

Temporary Exhibition: April 12 – November 3, 2013.

Location: North and South Boeing Galleries at Millennium Park, Chicago.

The exhibition is co-presented by Millennium Park, Inc., and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events [DCASE]

and is sponsored by The Boeing Company, with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Tanukis in the North Boeing Gallery

NORTH BOEING GALLERY has 17 figure sculptures called Tanukis. Tanuki is Japanese raccoon dog. Since ancient times these are part of Japanese folklore. Shigaraki town in Japan is famous for pottery making, including Tanuki statues.

When Lucas Cowan, the curator of the exhibition, contacted Jun Kaneko for the exhibition, he was in Shigaraki town in Japan, which is famous for Tanuki statues. So Jun decided to make Tanukis for the exhibition.

Dangos in the South Boeing Gallery

SOUTH BOEING GALLERY has 13 monumental works by Jun Kaneko called Dangos. He created these at his Mission Clay: Pittsburg Project.
For more, click here..

BOEING GALLERIES

Opened in 2005, Boeing Galleries are a pair of outdoor exhibition spaces in the Millennium Park. These galleries were made possible by a generous donation of $ 5 million by the Boeing Co. to fund the construction of the outdoor spaces, and for an endowment to “help fund visual arts exhibitions” in them. The galleries are paved with granite and are surrounded by sycamore trees. The mission of the Boeing Galleries has always been to bring in new, contemporary works, by living artists.

The current exhibition is the fourth sculptural exhibition in the Boeing Galleries. Others being..
– Sculptures by Mark di Suvero [2007-08]   click here..
– A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculpture From China [2009-10]  click here
– Interconnected – Sculptures of Yvonne Domenge [2011-12]   click here..

[Before these there have been two photo exhibitions.. In 2005, there was Revealing Chicago: An Aerial Portrait by Terry Evans. And in 2006 there was In Search of Paradise: Great Gardens of the World.]

: Sculptures by Mark di Suvero

: Contemporary Sculpture From China

: Interconnected – Sculptures of Yvonne Domenge

OPENING RECEPTION

on April 12, 2013, at the Millennium Hall of Chicago Cultural Center

The exhibition is co-presented by Millennium Park, Inc., and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events [DCASE]. and is sponsored by The Boeing Company, with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. It’s been made possible by the concerted efforts of many individuals including Laura Samson, John Bryan, Dr. Lee Elizabeth Kelly, Geoffrey Bates, Michael Darling, Erward Euler and Lucas Cowan.

Donna La Pietra

It’s through the partnership of Department of Cultural Affairs Special Events [DCASE] that the MPI [ Millennium Park Incorporated ] is really pleased to be able to bring these free, to the public, temporary sculpture exhibitions. Jun’s work is really the fourth installation to be presented in both the North and the South Boeing galleries.

– Donna La Pietra [Co-Chairman of the Millennium Park, Inc.]

Michelle Boone

All summer long millions of Chicagoans and visitors are drawn to Millennium Park, a jewel on the Lakefront, for free concerts, children’s activities, nature programs and even workouts. Having the Boeing Galleries come alive with these incredible sculptures, art that engages with the public on a human scale is really a rare treat. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is pleased to be working in partnership with the Millennium Park Inc. on this installation and all of you can being enjoying these wonderful installations from today to Nov. 3rd.

-Michelle Boone [Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special / DCASE]

Lucas Cowan

The legendary Tanuki features special traits that are believed to bring good fortune including big eyes to perceive the environment and make good decisions, big belly that symbolize boldness, calmness and decisiveness and a friendly smile. The title speaks not only to the concept of Tanuki figure but in a more abstract way to the work and creative genius of Jun’s life story.

– Lucas Cowan [Director of Public Art at Maryland State Arts Council, and senior curator of exhibitions and special projects for Millennium Park]

The exhibition is co-presented by Millennium Park, Inc., and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events [DCASE]. and is sponsored by The Boeing Company, with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. It’s been made possible by the concerted efforts of many individuals : Laura Samson, John Bryan, Dr. Lee Elizabeth Kelly, Geoffrey Bates, Michael Darling, Edward Euler and Lucas Cowan.