CR Event Series Report: An Anti-Guided Walking Tour of the Museum

walking-as-art for all ages

On July 19th Cultural ReProducers joined forces with the Art Institute of Chicago to present "An Anti-Guided Walking Tour of the Museum" led by art historian and critic Lori Waxman in the form of a slideshow through history, from Surrealist novels to Fluxus walking performances to Janet Cardiff's contemporary audiovisual adventures. Meanwhile, our kids laid down their own art walks of inky stamps and colored tape in a sunny room across the hall. At the close of the lecture, Waxman distributed a handout packed with Fluxus walking scores for participants to enact around the museum and out into the city, providing potential outlines for endlessly sensory self-guided tours.

One of our goals has been to make the Cultural ReProducers Event Series free of charge in addition to organizing free on-site childcare. Artists are the most underpaid / unpaid workers in the arts economy, and for artist-parents the equation "time = money" is especially literal, since work time often translates directly to childcare costs. This could have made things tricky at a museum that charges $23 adult admission, but the museum's education department was amazing to work with and together we made it happen. The event was held in the Ryan Education Center, a great family-friendly space in the new Modern Wing that is always free, and joined the Art Institute's annual Kaleidoscope Festival, which provided free museum admission as well as great activities throughout the day with organizations like the Poetry Foundation and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Wendy Donahue at the Chicago Tribune did a really nice event writeup for the newspaper's website, which also brought some new visitors our way.

 The Cultural ReProducers Event Series is a roaming series of lectures, performances, and other events designed to allow parents with small children participate more actively in the art community. These curated weekend morning events include free on-site childcare and intergenerational receptions.

Our goal is twofold: to give parents and their kids the chance to participate as critical members of the arts community, and to inspire cultural institutions to better serve artists and audiences, providing positive models for future programming. This project is made possible through support from the Propeller Fund.

We're busy planning our next event for Saturday, September 13th at the DePaul Museum of Art:  Kids in the Studio: Art, Labour, and Everyday Life with artists Bonnie Fortune and Brett Bloom. Drop us an email at culturalreproducers (at) gmail dot com if you'd like information about this and other upcoming events.

An Anti-Guided Walking Tour of the Museum: Cultural ReProducers + The Art Institute of Chicago

Phillipe Petit's illegal tightrope walk between the twin towers, 1974

Cultural ReProducers is pleased to team up with The Art Institute of Chicago to present An Anti-Guided Walking Tour of the Museum led by art critic and art historian Lori Waxman on Saturday, July 19th, 11:00 am.

Walking is one of the most primary human actions, yet for the last 100 years artists have experimented with it as an art form. Consider the revolutionary and aesthetic potential of this everyday gesture as Lori Waxman presents a lecture on walking works followed by the chance to enact several pieces for yourself, in and around the museum.

An Anti-Guided Walking Tour of the Museum is presented in the Ryan Education Center, located in the Art Institute's Modern Wing. This event is part of the Art Institute's annual Kaleidoscope Festival, allowing families free access to the museum and its events.

Space at this event is limited. Pre-register to secure your spot!



The Cultural ReProducers Event Series is a roaming series of free lectures, performances, and other events designed to allow parents with small children participate more actively in the art community. Events take place on weekend mornings and feature great artist-curated programming, on-site childcare and all-ages receptions.

Our goal is twofold: to give parents and their kids the chance to participate as critical members of the arts community, and to inspire cultural institutions to better serve artists and audiences, providing positive models for future programming. This project is made possible through support from the Propeller Fund.

Christine Hill, Tourguide? 1999

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’m not a parent. Can I come? Absolutely, and bring your friends. We hope these events will be of interest to anyone engaged in the arts - not just families. One of our goals is to include parents in the context of the broader art community, which means it’s vital to have non-parents there as part of the conversation too. Be sure to pre-register if you'd like a voucher for free museum admission.

I am a parent. Does my kid have to be in child care, or can I keep them with me? Parents who'd rather keep their children with them during the lecture are welcome to do so. We're just offering the option to participate without the distraction of wrangling small children.

Where in the museum is the Ryan Education Center? If you enter the Modern Wing of the museum on Monroe, you'll find it on the left-hand side, before the admission gates. Whether you're there with kids or not, entry to the Ryan Education Center (and this event) is free.

Why do I need to pre-register for child care? For safety and legal reasons, space is limited to 18 children per event, and we expect it to fill quickly. Registration is first-come, first-served.

What time should I arrive if I have children? Sign-in starts when the museum opens at 10:30 am. The event itself starts at 11 and will last about 45 minutes. Of course, timing with children is often a bit unpredictable. You’re welcome to sign in and quietly join us at any time during the event.

Who will be watching my kids? We’ve hand-picked a great selection of experienced babysitters and playgroup facilitators who will lead hands-on activities linked to the events that parents will be attending. These are people we know and trust with our own kids regularly. Keep in mind that this is a grassroots, artist-run childcare project, not a licensed daycare facility. You will be asked to read and sign a waiver before registering your child.

What about parking and public transportation?  The Art Institute is easily accessible by CTA train. The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines all stop above ground at Adams/Wabash, one block west of the museum. The Red and Blue lines stop underground at Monroe, just a few blocks away. Parking downtown can be difficult, but the Art Institute offers reserved parking at several lots within walking distance of the museum if you pay ahead.