TRIP REPORT: Exploring a craft at the Museum of Contemporary Photography

Exploring a craft at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College
TRIP REPORT: Still for the Friends

Sometimes we have to stop and learn from others as we develop crafts, ideas and knowledge. So your author is off to learn at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College.   

• Still for the friends
• But first. A trip to Liverpool, North West England.  But why?
• To the… daytime Heathrow run?
• Lounging around with Cathay Pacific and American Airlines
• AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin Extra)
• Into the USA, A Scammer Taxi driver and the Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Exploring a craft at the Museum of Contemporary Photography
• The Gundam Base, Chicago
• Random Chicago Eats
• Off the Camera Roll – Views and Images of a Windy City
• An Early Return to O’Hare and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
• AA882 to Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Exit Row)
• A Quick Atlanta Transit
• BA226 to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to London Heathrow Terminal 3 (World Traveller/Economy Class)
• Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory and The Journey Home
• It’s Still for Friends

Exploring modern photography at the Museum of Contemporary Photography

Price: Free (Donations welcome)

When my photography hat is on, I do like to look to other photographers for inspiration and ideas, as well as methods.

My style of photography is a mixture of styles I’ve drawn inspiration from over the years by watching other photographers and blending my own style into them. It’s allowed me to switch from buildings to aircraft to models with not a lot of effort (in many cases, it’s just a change of lens and attitude).

Whilst I appreciate the technical side of photography, if you can’t get the results you want, it’s all for nothing. Thus, seeing results without much knowledge of the technical side is good, as I can spend time appreciating the image, and then, in my mind, take it apart.

The exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Photography is hosted by Columbia College Chicago, so there is more than an academic bent to it. For me, it’s a chance to look at a curated collection (beyond my normal styles) and look at other work.

And having different perspectives is never a bad idea.

Getting to this museum is pretty easy, as it is located at 600 South Michigan Avenue, as part of the Columbia College Campus in Chicago.

Thus, it’s on the South-ish side of the city (although it’s walking distance from Roosevelt Station on the L and accessible on the buses that go down South Michigan Avenue) for those who want to use public transport, or a good 15-minute walk from Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Getting in was a little difficult, as it was a small entrance to the side of the museum on South Michigan Avenue. It gave me a chance to look at what else college students do and the skills they were picking up – for example, there was a great window display on toiles (the joy of learning about bits that make up a mock-up in dress making).

There was a longer explanation in the window.

As I said, the entrance was a lot smaller than I thought it would be.

Inwards

Turning right and entering the museum. As I was here on a Monday, there were no events going on, allowing me to absorb what was around. It’s also pretty quiet in there, so for those who want to explore an exhibit in peace and quiet, it’s worth it for the silence in the city.

Sometimes it’s worth going to a smaller museum, as the Arts Institute can be loud in places.

There were some exhibits that were photography-related.

Collages from collections – a popular theme here 

That’s a familiar view. 

A view of the main welcome wall. Again, its intresting to see the different styles and media being used.

I love reflective work like this.

I’m a sucker for lines, shapes and order too. 

As well as disorder 

And chaos. 

As well as ideas,

The collection in its current state goes through 50 years of the collection, exploring different mediums and outputs, as well as the process of how they got there.

It’s enough to give pause for thought.

Overall

It’s possible to speedrun this museum in 15 minutes – but you’d be doing yourself a disservice. I went through certain exhibits twice, be it for curiosity, detail or trying to take apart an image, my mind on how it was framed, shot and prepared.

And it’s also quiet. In a city full of noise, it provides a point to disconnect and explore.

Welcome in this busy world.

Next:

We’re going to change from one form of art to another – The Gundam Base, Chicago.

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