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Sculpture, Wine and Dine
fundraising event at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park.

Date: September 9, 2017.

The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park is a collection of 29 master works of large-scale sculpture within 100 acres of prairie landscape. The museum in the prairie is open for public viewing 365 days a year. It is free of charge. The park integrates art with nature. Although it is located on the campus of Governors State University, it was founded and maintained through grants and donations from businesses and individuals.

The park serves as a living laboratory for children and adults. The popular acromyn STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] becomes STEAM with the infusion of Art in it. Outdoors@theNATE program encourages interactive learning with exploration of nature and art. It offers new opportunities and ways of thinking through investigation, play and exploration.

Exploration of NMSP has become even more interesting with – Otocast – the new digital guide to the park. The Otocast app, is a free app  which provides which provides a real-time guide to any art work within the park. The presentation includes photos of each artwork, text explaining the sculpture,  and in many cases recordings made by the artists themselves about their work.

The NMSP is marking its 39th anniversary, and has grown into a primer sculpture park not only in Chicagoland, but on the national and international map.

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Sculpture, Wine and Dine 

The three missions of NMSP are: Art, Conservation and Education.

As mentioned earlier, although the sculpture park is located on the campus of Governors State University, it was founded and is maintained through grants and donations from businesses and individuals. The three missions – art, conservation, and education –  become possible only by generous donations by visitors and patrons.  The annual fundraising event is one of the highlights of park activities.  This year  “Sculpture Wine and Dine” took place at NMSP on September 9, 2017.

Guest of Honor were Honorary Chairs Gary and Denise Gardner.

Sculpture, Wine and Dine included Drinks, Dinner and Dessert. Also Dance!
Drinks/ Wine Reception and Hors d’ Oeuvers, served near the sculpture “House Divided” by Bruce Nauman.
Dinner / Farm-to-Table experience featuring Chicago’s Limelight Catering, in outdoor tent near “Serendipity” by Chakaia Booker.
Dessert / Afterglow Party near

 

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Wine Reception and Hors d’ Oeuvers served near the sculpture “House Divided” by Bruce Nauman.

Introduction and Welcome by Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park Board.  The event was hosted by Wayne Johnson, known for NBS’s “Wayne’s Weekned,” and winner of Today Show’s Domestic Diva contest. We got to know about the wonderful art at sculpture park, the various conservation efforts to maintain them, and the funds needed to keep the programs going.

All this with red or white wine, and a wide variety of delectable hors d’oeuvres which included lobster quesadilla, ricotta crostini, beef carpaccio, spring rolls and chilled pea soup.

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Exploring “Yes! for Lady Day” – by Mark di Suvero 

Before we headed for dinner, we stopped by the sculpture “Yes! for Lady Day” by Mark di Suvero – a monumental masterpiece with perhaps the most interesting backstory. It was made before the Governor State University was formed.

The sculpture was created over a period of two summers [1968-69] while diSuvero lived in a farmhouse on what was to become the GSU campus. Use of the house was loaned by Lewis Manilow, a prominent Chicago collector and philanthropist. The site became a gathering place for local sculptors: John Henry, Richard Hunt, John Chamberlain and others spent time there. The sculpture is made of salvaged steel I-beams and a railroad tank car. The title [Yes! for Lady Day] is inspired by American jazz musician and singer-songwriter Billie Holiday, who was nicknamed as Lady Day.

 

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Dinner was unique Farm-to-Table experience by Chicago’s Limelight Catering.

Farm-to-Table experience promotes serving local food through direct acquisition from the producers which might be farmer’s market and/or local distributers. It also incorporates food-traceability, that is celebrating where the food comes from. So the origin of the food is identified to consumers.

The catering was by Chicago’s own Limelight Catering. Established in 1990 it has evolved to become one of Chicagoland’s premier catering companies. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, they are innovators in the art of catering and events. Molly Brewe, the head chef and director of food and beverage, explained the menu and also origin of the food on our tables.

Food was heavenly! I usually don’t photograph people eating. So this was taken in the beginning of the dinner, when salad and rolls were served. Entree included: grilled steak with garlic parsley butter, mashed potatoes with spinach, basil and olive oil, grilled broccoli and cauliflower, and the vegan alternative was stuffed pepper with quinoa and caramalized vegetables.

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Desserts and Afterglow Party

Dessert was with more art and  movie too. There was documentary film screening of “Searching for Lady Day: A Portrait in Steel.”  The film is an exploration of how Billie Holiday inspired Mark Di Suvero’s masterpiece sculpture ‘Yes! For Lady Day!’  It has been nominated in the Best Documentary category at the Naperville Independent Film Festival. The sweets served during the afterglow party included blueberry pie pops, lemon curd tartlet, chocolate fudge brownies and seasonal fruit paletas.

Special thanks goes to Jeff Stevenson, Director and Curator at Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. He took over this year when Geoffrey Bates, who was Director and Curator for very successful ten years [2007-2017] retired in April, 2017.. click here. One can imagine the hard work, time and effort involved in this organizing an event like this. But Jeff Stevenson at helm, made it all look so easy and natural.  It was a wonderful evening. Almost dreamlike. But better! It actually happened!

Thanks to all those who participated.

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SOME MORE IMAGES FROM THE DAY

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RELATED LINKS

Official Website: Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park .. .. click here..

My Posts on Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park.. click here
NMSP: Collection Photo Gallery..click here..
NMSP: Collection Blogs.. click here
NMSP: Temporary Exhibitions.. click here..
NMSP: Articles..click here..
NMSP: Fundraising..click here..

Home: Public Art in Chicago.. click here..

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