• Opening Reception
• Adults

Harris After Hours: Adaptation Opening Celebration

Thu. January 30 • 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join the Harris School of Public Policy and the Smart Museum of Art in celebrating the opening of John Preus’ new site specific installation.

• Talk
• Adults

US-China Forum 2020: The Matter of Art

Thu. February 6 • 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM

The University of Chicago’s US-China Forum 2020 explores how China and the United States intersect, interact, and overlap through the arts.

• Talk
• Adults

Keynote Address by Wu Hung

Thu. February 6 • 5:00 PM

The Art and Materiality symposium opens with the keynote at the US-China Forum by esteemed art historian and The Allure of Matter co-curator Wu Hung.

• Symposium
• Adults

Symposium: Art and Materiality (Part I)

Fri. February 7 • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

This scholarly symposium uses the lens of materiality to investigate topics central to the development and study of contemporary art in China.

• Talk
• Adults

Symposium: Art and Materiality (Part II)

Sat. February 8 • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

This scholarly symposium uses the lens of materiality to investigate topics central to the development and study of contemporary art in China.

• Opening Reception
• Adults

Opening Celebration: The Allure of Matter

Sat. February 8 • 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Celebrate The Allure of Matter with an opening weekend reception happening simultaneously at the Smart Museum of Art and Wrightwood 659.

• Social
• UChicago Students

First-Gen Night at the Museum

Thu. February 13 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

A drop-in evening at the Smart Museum for the University of Chicago's first-generation college students, immigrants, and allies.

• Art Making
• Families

Family Day: Pantyhose Puppets

Sat. February 15 • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

"Stretch" your imagination while using nylons to make fantastical puppets during this drop-in family day!

• Workshop
• Educators

Amplify Workshop: Creative Change, Growth, and Transformation

Thu. February 20 • 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

This evening workshop for teachers features hands-on activities that explore the embedded history of materials, manipulation, and adaptation.

• Social
• UChicago Students

Party at the Smart: Radioactive

Thu. February 20 • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

An after-hours party for UChicago students featuring original performances

• Workshop
• Adults

Material Poems

Thu. February 27 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

A drop-in creative writing and art-making workshop at the Poetry Foundation that connects material art and poetry.

• Art Making
• Adults

Workshop: Tobacco Leaf Bookmaking

Thu. March 5 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Master bookbinder and artist Jamie Lou Thome leads this bookmaking workshop inspired by artist Xu Bing's "Tobacco Project." 

• Talk
• Adults

Smart Talk: Borders & Human Rights

Thu. March 5 • 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

In collaboration with the Pozen Center, Tom Ginsburg and Claudia Flores discuss the rights of refugees and migrants.

• Art Making
• Families

Family Day: Wigtastic Weaving

Sat. March 7 • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Drop by and learn how to weave using wild wigs and colorful fake hair as yarn.

• Social
• UChicago Students

Study at the Smart

Thu. March 12 • 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

UChicago students—prepare for finals next to the monumental works in the special exhibition The Allure of Matter.

• Talk
• Adults

Reading: Silk Poems

Sat. March 21 • 4:30 PM

A live reading of the book Silk Poems by artist and poet Jen Bervin. Presented at Wrightwood 659 in collaboration with the Poetry Foundation.

• Workshop
• Adults

Drawing with Fire and Ash

Thu. March 26 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This hands-on workshop delves into the mysteries of one of Earth’s most elemental material: fire.

• Workshop
• Adults

Workshop: Porcelain Papers

Thu. April 16 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

A hands-on workshop that looks at the history and contemporary practices of making paper and porcelain, both in China and the United States.

• Talk
• Adults

Material Stories: Tobacco

Sat. April 18 • 2:00 PM

Join Peter Benson (Washington University in St. Louis) and Stanley Abe (Duke University) for a cross-disciplinary discussion of tobacco's intertwined social, economic, and material histories.

• Workshop
• Adults

Workshop: Ornamental Rocks

Thu. April 30 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This hands-on workshop explores multiple sculpture-making techniques using stone and metal.