Chicago‘s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is showcasing “City in a Garden,” an exhibition celebrating LGBTQIA+ artists and their contributions too the city’s cultural landscape. Despite challenges to arts funding,the exhibition,curated by Jordan Carter,highlights the resilience and vibrancy of the queer community in Chicago.
Curator Jordan Carter noted that Chicago’s status as a “blue bubble” has allowed the exhibition to proceed despite federal actions that have impacted LGBTQIA+ arts funding. He emphasized the importance of such exhibitions in cities like Chicago, notably when other institutions nationwide may face limitations in presenting similar work.
The exhibition received meaningful support from the MCA and private donors. A key contributor is collector Daniel S.Berger, who loaned numerous pieces, including works by artists Fake and Ischar. berger’s involvement is particularly noteworthy as he is also a prominent AIDS researcher, instrumental in developing the first combination therapy for AIDS in the 1990s.
Berger’s art collection is distinguished by its focus on queer and Black artists. This focus stems from his clinical experience,where he observed the disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on these communities. His past engagement with the arts,including running a gallery in his Rogers Park coach house during the 2010s,directly influenced Carter’s vision for “City in a Garden.”
Beyond showcasing queer art and history,the exhibition itself is presented as an act of preservation and activism.Carter views art as a vital documentary tool, especially in times when efforts are made to marginalize LGBTQIA+ individuals. The exhibition aims to counter narratives that portray queer people as deviant or disposable by documenting their history and presence within the fabric of Chicago, suggesting that queer influences are woven into the city’s architecture and natural spaces.
Editorial Team: Sahar Fatima, Lead Editor; Carolyn Copeland, Top Editor; Stephanie Harris, copy Editor.