SILVER LINING: NEW DEAL PUBLIC ART IN ILLINOIS
WHEN
Monday, October 8
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
ADMISSION
Free, Reservations Required
LOCATION
Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington Street, Chicago
ABOUT
Film Screening and Discussion
In 1976, Barbara Bernstein produced a 24-minute film about large-scale public artworks created in Illinois under the sponsorship of the New Deal relief projects. Her film, produced for the U.S. Bicentennial, brought attention to the many beautiful murals painted in Illinois as part of this government employment effort during the 1930s. Now as Illinois celebrates its own Bicentennial, Landmarks Illinois presents a rare screening of this film. Barbara Bernstein will discuss the making of the film and conservator Heather Becker will discuss the history of some of the notable Chicago murals and their current condition.
SPEAKERS
Barbara Bernstein founded the New Deal Art Registry, a photographic online archive of large-scale public art done under the New Deal programs of the 1930s. She is also the Public Art Specialist of the Living New Deal. She made the film “Silver Lining” in 1976, under a grant from the Illinois Bicentennial Commission. Barbara moved to California in 1984 and got to know her new state by visiting New Deal murals. She has spent her career in software and tech writing.
Heather Becker, CEO of The Conservation Center, co-founded the largest mural preservation project in the country’s history in an effort to bring art back into public education. The project restored hundreds of early 20th century murals in Chicago. She is also the co-founder of New Deal Preservation Association-Midwest Chapter as well as author of Art for the People, a book on Chicago murals and art preservation.
COSPONSOR
This lecture is presented in partnership with City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events.
Photo: Detail, The Children’s Hour by Francis Coan at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago (formerly Hild Library) (credit: Barbara Bernstein)
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