ART on THE MART, an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, will begin its 2024 programming with a new commission by internationally renowned artist Nora Turato.
The launch of Turato’s projection, which continues the artist’s exploration of language, visual culture, and the present zeitgeist, will coincide with EXPO CHICAGO’s 11th edition, April 11 – 14.
Turato’s projection will be on view nightly at 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. from April 12 – June 5, 2024. Later in the spring season, the annual projection of new works by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors, celebrating exemplary work from the All-City Visual Arts Exhibitions, will return from May 1 – 12.
“ART on THE MART is thrilled to kick off the 2024 season with work by Nora Turato and CPS seniors. We are proud that ART on THE MART can showcase projects by internationally renowned artists together with the talent and promise of our local community,” said Cynthia Noble, Executive Director of ART on THE MART.
Known for her text-based works and a practice that spans performance, video, wall-mounted works, and artist books, Turato frequently challenges the boundaries of language. Assembling texts sourced from everyday life—media headlines, advertisements, and social media captions—Turato’s signature bold typography and spoken word performances hold a mirror up to our information-saturated society.
For Turato’s ART on THE MART commission, THIS IS A TEST OF SEVERANCE. can you let go?, she has drawn inspiration from mantras, affirmations, and other lexicons from the self-betterment industries, delving into our obsession with wellness culture and the associated anxieties and insecurities.
On Saturday, April 13, during EXPO CHICAGO, Turato will deliver a new performance, pool 6, at The Art Institute of Chicago’s Fullerton Hall. Originally commissioned by Performa, New York, for the 2023 Biennial, pool 6 sees Turato for the first time incorporating multiple identities within one of her monologues, concerned with the notions of self-optimization and the culture of well-being. The Art Institute of Chicago performance is free but requires registration. Turato’s ART on THE MART debut also coincides with a solo exhibition at Sprüth Magers, February 28 – April 27, which will premiere a new video work alongside her latest enamel panels across both floors of the Los Angeles gallery.
“THIS IS A TEST OF SEVERANCE. can you let go? continues to explore the collective desire for self-optimization and control we exercise over ourselves in a constant pursuit of improvement. I am honored that my piece will be the inaugural work of the season and am excited to unveil such a major public project in Chicago,” said Turato.
ART on THE MART’s spring season will also feature new artworks by CPS seniors, officially titled Select Works from the CPS Class of 2024. CPS will select the final works to be projected on the façade of THE MART from student submissions to the All-City High School Visual Arts Exhibition and the Senior Portfolio Showcase. Students’ artworks are selected based on a score given for technical skill, craftsmanship, originality, and student voice. An original score, also created by CPS students, will accompany the piece. The launch of the ART on THE MART projection will coincide with the CPS multidisciplinary arts festival, RE·VER·BER·ATE May 1 – 4. The four-day event provides students in grades PreK – 12th with exhibition and performance opportunities, as well as workshops, portfolio reviews, and career fairs throughout the various locations of the festival in downtown Chicago.
ART on THE MART is free and can be best experienced from the jetty section of the Chicago Riverwalk on Wacker Drive between Wells Street and Franklin Street, where accompanying audio can also be heard.
For more information on Art on theMART, visit artonthemart.com.
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