Waubonsee Community College

They seek a city, Chicago and the art of migration, 1910-1950, Sarah Kelly Oehler

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

They seek a city

bibliographycatalogs

841201172

Sarah Kelly Oehler

Chicago and the art of migration, 1910-1950

"In the first half of the 20th century, thousands of newcomers--Eastern European emigres, Mexican immigrants, and Southerners both black and white--flocked to Chicago. These new residents included artists who made significant contributions to the vibrant cultural life of the city. They Seek a City highlights approximately seventy-five paintings, works on paper, photographs, and sculptures by such artists as Eldzier Cortor, Archibald Motley, and Morris Topchevsky that reflect the diverse urban social landscape. As these artists sought to navigate their surroundings and establish their identities amid a changing society, they found inspiration in their personal and cultural contexts. Frequently, they focused on the underlying causes of immigration or migration and depicted themes of exile and alienation. Others chose to represent their new surroundings, for better or worse, addressing concerns such as racism, poverty, and social injustice. Artistic styles also varied. Whereas many worked in a figurative mode to better convey social or political messages, modernist art by European immigrants such as Laszlo Moholy-Nagy also played a major role"--, Provided by publisher

They seek a city: Chicago and the art of migration, 1910-1950 -- A century of progress: immigration, migration, and the American scene -- Making a home: immigrants and migrants in the new city -- Fluid boundaries: Chicago meets Mexico -- Forging a new path: migration and the art of social change -- The new Bauhaus: design in Chicago