Intercontinental O’Hare Launches New Art Exhibit, “Crossroads”
ROSEMONT, IL (April 2010) – Intended to inspire guests who have traveled from far and near, the concept for the new Crossroads exhibition at the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare grew directly from Chicagoland’s history – the area first developed as a trade route, business and industrial center. Proximity to major waterways and train lines contributed to the area’s reach and connectivity.
Today more than route or machine, the area is a refined cultural and artistic center that embraces the region’s history. Crossroads celebrates contemporary connectivity and Chicago’s global reach via O’Hare International Airport. A parallel to the InterContinental O’Hare hotel’s guests, Crossroads’ artists come from far and near – local, national and international.
“Crossroads is a culmination of the best Chicago has to offer,” says curator Jennifer DeCarlo of Schneider Gallery. “A cross section of work from all media was drawn from some of the city’s top galleries.”
This unique exhibition space features works from nine Chicago galleries – a rare fete in itself – and three artists without gallery representation. Pieces in all media, from traditional: painting, drawing, printmaking and photography, to new media: collage, installation and video are showcased. Many of the artists are well recognized and represented in museum collections, most notable among them are Luis Gonzalez-Palma, Tremain Smith, and RES.
Installation artist Sara Schandt, whose work was featured in Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art in 2007, was commissioned to make a unique piece for the InterContinental Hotel. Schnadt works with networks, fibers, and the concept of mapping to create web-like structures in space. Her piece, titled Network Hub, maps arrivals and departures from Chicago, and relates directly to the exhibition’s theme, Crossroads. For more information on Crossroads and to see photos, click here.
ABOUT INTERCONTINENTAL O’HARE’S ART MUSEO:
The InterContinental O’Hare embraces all things artistic. The hotel’s spacious Art Museo space is cared for by two full-time curators. Works are featured not only in the exhibition spaces, but also adorn guest floors. Each floor’s elevator foyer features a different wall-sized shot of abandoned city scenes, and every guest room has original paintings, screen prints, and sculptures. Beyond works in the featured Crossroads exhibition visitors can enjoy pieces that are part of the hotel’s permanent collection, including screen prints by Robert Rauschenberg, color etchings by Tony Fitzpatrick, and a large scale painting by Wesley Kimler.
A stay at the year-old InterContinental O’Hare virtually includes a complimentary education in art. Employees and guests alike are invited to immerse themselves in the artistic ambiance the hotel provides and are encouraged to roam the hotel and admire the unique art on display, or request a complimentary gallery tour. “The ‘museo’ concept showcases how the hotel embraces the arts – sculpture, canvas, architecture, photography, music and culinary – enhancing our guests’ stay and fueling a passion for experiencing culture,” says General Manager David Hall. For more information on the Art Museo and to see photos, click here.