Elmhurst University students and faculty are lending their creative talents to the Elmhurst Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “A Love Supreme.”
Through a partnership between the University’s music department and the art museum, Elmhurst students and faculty will perform during a number of programs related to “A Love Supreme,” a solo exhibition by Chicago artist and designer Norman Teague that was inspired by legendary jazz musician John Coltrane.
Other members of the University community are also contributing to the exhibition. Doug Beach, retired director of jazz studies at Elmhurst, donated used instruments to Teague, who used them to create ceramic assemblage pieces for the exhibition. And Elmhurst art student Rachel Fratt ’24, who is an intern at the art museum, has been involved with preparing exhibition and educational materials, and even designed the exhibition’s bold graphic identity.
In his exhibition, Teague uses “A Love Supreme,” Coltrane’s defining album, as a personal and cultural reference point to consider design influences from his hometown of Chicago, exploring the power and influence of “bold, improvisational jazz and unapologetic Black aesthetics.”
An accompanying group exhibition in the Mies van der Rohe McCormick House, “A Love Supreme: McCormick House Reimagined,” features more than 30 Chicago-based artists of color, and celebrates a variety of jazz-related influences on Chicago design.
Partnerships like this, with one of the area’s leading cultural institutions, provide Elmhurst students with relevant experiences where they can apply their knowledge and skills, and help prepare them for whatever comes next in their careers and lives.
Elmhurst University musicians will perform at these exhibition-related events:
- “A Love Supreme” Opening Celebration, featuring a meet-and-greet with Teague and the other artists, and special performances by the Elmhurst University Jazz Combo and Chicago House music pioneer DJ Celeste Alexander. Friday, Jan. 19, 7:00 p.m.
- “A Love Supreme” panel discussion, which will dig deeper into the music, cultural and design influences of the exhibit and its artists. Moderated by Ayana Contreras, a cultural historian and host of “Reclaimed Soul” on WBEZ-91.5 FM, the panel discussion will be followed by a performance by the Elmhurst University Jazz Combo. Saturday, Feb. 3, 1:00 p.m.
- An Evening of Jazz, featuring an evening of jazz-inspired performances by a group of Elmhurst University faculty and others, along with beverages, hors d’oeuvres and a viewing of the exhibition. Thursday, April 18, 6:00 p.m.
“A Love Supreme” will be at the Elmhurst Art Museum from Jan. 20 to April 28. Admission is free on the first Friday of each month during the exhibition. Admission to the museum is always free for Elmhurst University faculty, administrators and staff with presentation of their Jaypass. Museum admission for students 18+ is $10 with presentation of their Jaypass. For more information, visit elmhurstartmuseum.org. For event tickets, visit elmhurstartmuseum.org/events.
The museum is located at 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave. in Elmhurst. For more information, call (630) 834-0202 or visit elmhurstartmuseum.org.