A Change of Perspective

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"Making History: Women of the Art Institute."

Image courtesy of The Ryerson and Burnham ArchivesLinks to an external site..

"The Katherine Kuh Gallery was located... in the Michigan Square Building... the gallery played a major role in changing the city's attitude towards Modernism."

-- Susan Rossen (1990)

ADDRESSING ROSSEN'S RECEPTION:

Though Rossen's discussion on the Katherine Kuh Gallery is not directly related to the economic or artistic purpose of the Michigan Square Building and/or Diana Court, the gallery's presence speaks to the artistic nature of the building and its progressive nature as a commercial and artistic presence within Chicago. The Katherine Kuh Gallery was the first Chicago art gallery to exhibit photography and typographical design as art. Despite the gallery's commercial failure due to the vastly unconventional art for 1930s-1940s Chicago, the gallery's presence at the Michigan Square Building probably enabled it to influence the changing attitudes towards Modernisms because the of the building's its ability to draw crowds in with its elegant presence.

Though the art gallery did poorly, I am still reminded of the Chicago Tribune's statement that the Diana Fountain is a symbol of art and commerce because of the gallery's contribution to changing the views on Modernism in Chicago. A building like the Michigan Square no doubt would have affected the perceptions of different styles of art because of its entrancing capabilities. The building already proved that its location was a factor in the successfulness of different businesses, like the Vassar House and Morkos' father's shoe repair shop. I see no reason why, despite the gallery's lack of sales, the Michigan Square Building would not have affect the gallery's ability to make such an impact on the artistic world.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rossen, S., & Moser, C. (1990).

PRIMER FOR SEEING, THE GALLERY OF ART INTERPRETATION AND KUH,KATHARINE CRUSADE FOR MODERNISM IN CHICAGO. Art Institute Of Chicago Museum Studies, 16(1).

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