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Photo of a group of visitors standing before Georges Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884," including a young girl in a light-green sundress who holds the hand of the woman standing next to her as they smile up at each other. Photo of a group of visitors standing before Georges Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884," including a young girl in a light-green sundress who holds the hand of the woman standing next to her as they smile up at each other.

Ways to Maximize Your Summer

Top 10

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Get out there this summer—into the gardens, into the galleries, and into a new experience (or ten). From energetic gatherings to mindful meditation, we’ve got everything you need to make this your best summer yet.

#1 Join in Art Making for All

Tap into your inner O’Keeffe with Saturday Studio on June 22, July 27, and August 31 from 12:00 to 2:00 in the museum’s North Garden. Or bring the whole family to the Ryan Learning Center’s Art Exchange, open 11:00 to 3:00, Thursday through Monday. For a full list of summer art-making opportunities, check out our calendar. Registration is required for some programs.

#5 Party into the Night

Teens—the biggest party of the summer is happening June 6! Don’t miss Exuberus, the Art Institute’s free annual teen night, open to and hosted by Chicago high school teens. This five-hour event begins at 5:00 and features food, teen DJs, dancing, an open mic to show off your talents, teen-led tours and gallery activities, art making, and more. Registration is required and open now!

#6 Engage in Mindful Looking

Combining close looking and meditation with artworks in the collection, this 30-minute monthly program is designed to help you bring mindful attention to your museum visit. Offered July 25 and August 22 at 12:00 this summer, and extending monthly into December, it offers opportunities to reflect, contemplate, and engage deeply with artwork and your own internal experience.

#10 Window Shop Your Chicago

Our neighbors all across the city will be decking out their storefronts this summer to help us celebrate Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks.” Take a sneak peek at where this year’s Project Windows entries will pop up using our interactive map, and get ready to vote for your favorite designs from June 15 to July 31.

Images: Seffani Jemison. The Meaning of Various Photographs to Tyrand Needham (detail), 2009–10. Anonymous gift; Christina Ramberg. Parallel Manipulation, 1977. Gift of the Robert A. Lewis Fund in memory of William and Polly Levey. © The estate of Christina Ramberg; A visitor enjoys the Andō Gallery installed with the 2021 exhibition Cosmoscapes: Ink Paintings by Tai Xiangzhou; Ellsworth Kelly. Spectrum Colors Arranged by Chance IV (detail), 1951. Margaret Fisher Endowment. ©️ Ellsworth Kelly Foundation; Rhonda Holy Bear, Wakah Wayuphika Win, Making with Exceptional Skills Woman. Lakota HonorSees The Horses WomanSuWakan Ayutan Win (detail), 2011–23. Rhoades Family and Mrs. Leonard S. Florsheim Jr. funds; purchased with funds provided by Allen Turner in memory of Father Peter J. Powell; Georgia O’Keeffe. Pink Dish and Green Leaves, 1928–29. Private collection. Photograph by Bruce M. White.

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