Barbara Crane has been a significant photographer for decades, perpetually and continually pushing the limits of her medium and its social commentary. In this colorful and beautiful body of work she successfully pushes the difficult to convey concept of abstract photography, combining, overlaying and obfuscating pictures of flowers. Her show opens tonight at the newly upscaled and relocated ThinkArt, whose idiosyncratic owner and director, Laurie Glenn presents a fascinating array of art that doesn't succumb to trends. 
It's only been a few years
since the Hyde Park Art Center moved to its new facility, but what a
difference it has made to Chicago and the Hyde Park community. Shortly
before it opened I led a failed effort to start the Chicago Art Project, a
museum for Chicago art and artists. Maybe it's a good thing we didn't
succeed because HPAC had done an exemplary job in elevating its game to expose
and champion a broad array of significant Chicago talent. Sunday
afternoon they're opening a full-blown exhibition for savant, Renaissance man
and/or loony genius, Conrad Friedburg. Never constrained by the reality
of fiscal responsibility, Friedburg builds contraptions
and concepts that reorient our thinking, sense of history
and wonder. 
It's Spring (soon). The good art is coming out again. Time to expand our horizons and go look at something new or different. Try it. It feels good. I look forward to seeing you out there.
Thanks!
Paul Klein
Leave a comment