13th Annual Katherine Filson Covington Memorial Art Exhibit
Sonnenschecin Gallery
Lake Forest College
555 North Sheridan Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045

23 November - 11 December 2005

M.W. Burns
Stephen Lapthisophon
Kathleen McCarthy
Ben Nicholson
Karen Reimer

When constructed in 1892, the Henry C. Durand Art Institute, a Richardsonian Romanesque building designed by prominent Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb, was intended to provide the residents of Lake Forest, Illinois with a venue for works lent by the Art Institute of Chicago. Its intent, however, was never realized and the building was soon given to Lake Forest College, after which it housed the English Department. At its front entrance, which is oriented toward the town, stone owls perched upon paint palettes flank the doorway, for it was the building's original function to combine education and the display of art.
This purpose was restored in 1981, when the newly renovated Durand Art Institute became the home of the art and philosophy departments. In addition to the creation of studio and classroom space, the most significant change to the building was the opening of the south entrance, with its large glass arch and doorway, integrating the building further with the campus community. With this exhibition, we hope to convey that although this facility is primarily used by Lake Forest College, its doors facing both directions suggest that it is still a community resource.

Because of its unique history and architecture, we would like to bring the visitor's attention to the building itself, the subject of this exhibition. As its title, Durand: Amorphous Solid, suggests, this fortress-like building continues to be shaped and altered by the artwork displayed within it, as well as by its history and the people who pass through it.

Throughout our class, we have explored the history contemporary exhibition practices, and are interested in presenting work that directly engages the viewer while encouraging exploration of the building. In a way, this site is the antithesis of the “white cube,” the sterile exhibition space that has, in recent decades, become the norm for the display of artwork. Through their installations, the featured artists encourage a critical look at the space and identity of this building.
As curators, we are excited about the opportunity for the visitor to have a direct encounter with the art as well as a fresh perspective on this historic space.

Students of
Art 350: Museum/Gallery Practicum
Lake Forest College
November 2005