January 2012
E-Newsletter

In this issue:

Free Weekdays Are Back!

The holidays might be over, but we have one more gift sure to please any art-loving Illinoisan—Free Winter Weekdays! That's right; the Art Institute is once again offering free admission for Illinois residents every weekday, all day long, from January 2 through February 10. So enjoy your holiday recovery among the museum's masterpieces. Find inspiration in special exhibitions including Light Years. Enjoy a variety of gallery talks and lectures, even a special concert. Or treat yourself to an $18 prix-fixe weekday lunch at Terzo Piano. There's plenty to start your New Year off on the right track.

The Visions of a Visionary

Renowned poet, writer, and activist Rabindranath Tagore is one of India's most celebrated cultural figures. He left his mark on the world as well, becoming in 1913 the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. While lesser known, his entrancing paintings also demonstrate his profound cultural impact. Sixty-one of these impressive works come together in The Last Harvest: The Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore. Opening January 28, this exhibition celebrates the 150th anniversary of the year of Tagore's birth and presents a stunningly beautiful and surprising introduction to one of India's most highly regarded writers.

See Them before They Close

All good things must come to an end, including special exhibitions, so be sure to stop in and experience these diverse offerings before they close this month!

Through January 7

Through January 15

Through January 22

Begin Again

A new year is all about new resolutions and new beginnings. Yet with so many artistic endeavors, it's just as fruitful to return to what has been done before—to repeat, respond, or reinterpret it. Take a look at this resourceful creative method with some of the intriguing lectures and performances as the Echo Effect season continues.

Miles and Miles of Art

It's Chicago. It's winter. It's cold outside! So come on in to the warm art-laden halls of the museum to get your exercise on. With our new Cultural Distance self-guided walking tours, you can combine your daily dose of cultural enrichment and physical exertion just by strolling our miles and miles of gallery space. Quarter-mile, half-mile, and one-mile tours let you set your own pace so you can enjoy the museum's many treasures and the satisfaction of knowing all the steps it took to get to them. Tours will be available online and in the museum for pick-up later this month.

Offer Extended: Get Three Months of Membership FREE

Become a member today and enjoy three FREE months of membership! When you join by January 6, 2012, you'll get 15 months of member benefits for the price of 12. That's less than $6 a month for unlimited access to the museum, member previews of special exhibitions, discounts in the museum shops and restaurants, and access to the exclusive Member Lounge with complimentary coffee and tea! Use promotion code 3LIGHT and join today!