MCA Winter Artist in Residence: Michael Genovese

Michael Genovese. Photo © Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

The new Winter Artist in Residence program at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago presents a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of an artist studio. The winter 2008 Artist in Residence, Michael Genovese, transplants his studio into the MCA and works on his new project, Institutionalized. Genovese makes his life public not only by sharing his creative processes from start to finish, but also by performing other artistic, administrative, and personal tasks within a public space. Through February 24, 2008, the Mayer Education Center becomes the mainstay for the socially-conscious artist as he creates and installs new works, interacts with visitors, and plans future projects.

Visitors may watch as Genovese builds a functional vendor cart, engraves images on aluminum, and creates a wall of multi-lingual texts. Through his work, he interacts both visually and physically with people – wall text takes root and evolves through the way languages translate between users, and the future of the cart lies in the hands of the vendor who receives it as a gift. The work is focused on the physical art object, the participatory experience, and its incorporation with daily life. Genovese further demonstrates his interest in genuinely linking his art to the audience by including the MCA community in his work and daily routine.