OK, this is IMPORTANT NEWS! This news ought to separate the real art lovers from those who just wanted to see a name exhibit.

I checked a few weeks ago at The Art Institute information desk and was told that there should be no problem for non-members to see for free the new Matisse: Radical Invention exhibit at the Institute. But just now (3 PM on March 17th), I received a very helpful Tweet from The Art Institute that this was not the case. We are NOT allowed free access to the new Matisse exhibit on March 25th, as can be read here: http://tr.im/Sgtj.

For me, this is absolutely not bad news because while I like Henri Matisse, he was not my favorite artist, nor even my favorite Post-Impressionist (that would be another Henri, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec). I will therefore turn this bad news into AWESOME news by changing our Meetup to see the Modern European exhibit in the Modern Wing, to see Dali, Magritte, Tanguy, Miro, and Ernst (again). I am just mentioning the surrealists here and leaving out the Picassos, Chagalls, and Legers. Honestly, it would take us weeks of visiting The Art Institute to properly appreciate that exhibit alone (much less the Modern Wing, much less the whole of the Institute), so do not be surprised if I make Modern European by itself multiple Meetups. In any case, we will forego paying $18 for Matisse and kick off Art Museum Weeknights with the Modern European exhibit at the Institute, http://bit.ly/arDj5x.

Even though this Meetup will now be in the Modern Wing, let us meet anyway at the bench next to the MAIN LOBBY ENTRANCE INTO THE MAIN MUSEUM SHOP; see http://bit.ly/9VWzM9. The Museum Shop is to your right as you enter The Art Institute from Michigan Avenue. If you get there on time, there is no way you can miss this train, but the train leaves the station at 6 PM.

For beverages afterwards, a little bird suggested Park Grille, the Gage, or Rhapsody.

To conclude, I had not planned to bring over 20 people to The Art Institute, so there are absolutely no hard feelings if you change your RSVP. But this being an opportunity to see Dali and Magritte, I might rib you for doing so privately sometime.

For those of you keeping score, this is the first installment of our Art Museum Weeknights Series.

• 
  Jester

  I am purposely not hyping this Meetup because we need events that are smaller and more intimate. But this is gonna be fun so if you like art, join up. I could live at The Art Institute. BTW, I checked at The Art Institute, and the Matisse exhibit should be FINE to see on March 25th.

  Posted Mar 3, 2010 at 12:40 PM
• 
  Henri Boylan

  Well, so much for small, but I guess we can still shoot for a certain level of intimacy. It's not in the numbers that show up but in the strength of the connections made that we shall judge the success of this event. Let's open up and enjoy each other's company!

  Posted Mar 16, 2010 at 12:17 AM
• 
  Jester

  With the Meetup change, you might get your small Meetup after all, Henri, but you shouldn't.

  Posted Mar 17, 2010 at 5:47 PM
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  Jester

  Alright, JUST IN CASE people arrive late on Thursday evening, we will be going to Modern European, and we will do it in COUNTER-chronological order, because I mention Dali, Magritte, Tanguy, Miro, and Ernst in the title of this Meetup. That means 3rd Level of the Modern Wing and the FIRST entrance that you see coming off the stairwell. If we don't finish (it's BIG), we'll have a Modern Europe Part II Meetup in 3 weeks. After the Art Institute, we will go to The Gage, 24 South Michigan.

  Posted Mar 23, 2010 at 3:18 PM
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  Frank

  I was late to the museum - got waylaid at the bar beforehand. Found myself wandering around the galleries in a bit of an alcohol-fueled buzz. The new wing is really cool. Saw some of my old "friends" hanging on the walls. I'll make it a point to see the Matisse exhibit. Sorry I missed the rest of the crew - would've been nice to make your collective acquaintance. Peace - Frank

  Posted Mar 26, 2010 at 11:28 AM