Ireland Exhibit Opens At Art Institute
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Art Institute of Chicago cut the green ribbon this St. Patrick's Day on a special exhibit celebrating Irish heritage.
"Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design 1690 to 1840" was conceived and made in Chicago.
Art Institute spokeswoman Rebecca Baldwin said the exhibit is the decades-long vision of museum curator for decorative arts Christopher Monkhouse, who worked on the project for the past five years.
The artworks, which include more than 300 pieces situated in 10 galleries.
"The artworks were borrowed from collections throughout the United States. These are not directly from Ireland. These are pieces made in Ireland that made their way to the U.S. over the years, and are now in collections here; including some major collections like Yale University and Notre Dame," Baldwin said.
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The exhibit showcases Irish instruments, paintings, and furniture.
Music for the exhibit was recorded by world-known Chicago Irish fiddler Liz Carroll, and other musicians.
Ireland Minister of State for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan called it a "groundbreaking exhibition."
The period of the artwork spans 150 years of Irish history, from 1690, the year of the Battle of Boyne, to 1840, five years before the Great Famine.
The Ireland exhibit runs through June 7.
