Chicago land exhibit- while in Evanston, I was able to visit the Block Museum twice ! They had a very interesting exhibit focused on the American Indians and their art !! They had some amazing pieces. Some from natural sweetgrass, lots of paintings and lots of basket weaving techniques!! Great installation and totally free and sponsored by Northwestern university . Totally ten star experience!! Highly recommended !! read more

The Block Museum - Block museum - Cinema Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I've been a Northwestern alum for nearly 10 years, and I have never donated to the university (even though I work there, because hi, I'm still paying off student loans from my graduate degree). That said, I did decide to donate this year, mainly because I really wanted the cute Arch jigsaw puzzle, and I designated my donation gift to go to the Block Museum. This place is a hidden gem. I am OBSESSED with William Blake...like, I own his entire poetry collection and two coffee table art books (one of which is from the current Block exhibit -- Age of Aquarius -- that I had to buy after visiting). The current exhibit is freaking brilliant. It's so well done, amazingly curated and organized, and is really ingenious. I admittedly don't know much about art (I'm kicking myself now for never taking an art history class during my time at NU), but I've been to The Block several times over the years working there, and I'm ashamed I never went as an undergrad. Plus, hello, it's free. Always. Super happy to support them and cannot wait for their next exhibits. In the meantime, I have a hot date with Blake at least 2-3 times more before it closes, including some of the fun special events they have planned in collaboration with other parts of the university and members of the Chicago community. read more

A jewel of a museum with cutting edge, quality exhibits that are always free! I've been to a few exhibits here. Some have challenged my comfort zone, all have made me question and wonder, and my most recent visit made me ask myself why it's been so long since my last visit. The current exhibit, Up is Down: Mid-Century Experiments in Advertising and Film at the Goldsholl Studio, is one to be seen for those who appreciate the world of advertising and design. This exhibit explores the work by the Chicago-area advertising firm Goldsholl Design Associates, headed by husband and wife team Morton and Millie Goldsholl. It takes you through their introduction of Bauhaus design to the American public through their innovative campaigns for corporations like 7UP, Motorola and Kimberly Clark. It's a well-curated exhibit with one exhibit in particular that blew me away. You'll just have to see for yourself. Fabulous community programming in conjunction with the exhibit. Hope you can check it out. Did I mention it's free?! read more

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The Block Museum of Art is, in ranking against other collegiate museums, one of the smallest museums with an even smaller, medium-specific collection. The Museum only collects works on paper, including some photography and a few pieces of outdoor sculpture, yet touring exhibitions span myriad mediums and periods of art history--works on paper, textiles, video and time-arts pieces, process art installations...an endless list and certainly one of the most diverse of any museum in Chicagoland. The paltry size of the museum, even though supported by Northwestern University, and its collecting philosophy, ensure no blockbusters or well-known contemporary artist exhibitions; this is a "quiet" museum with little fanfare or extras except a tiny museum shop the size of a walk-in closet. My only concern with the Museum is that there are few compelling reasons for me to visit on a regular basis, given their location, no permanent collection on view and wildly differing exhibition offerings. As I live in downtown Chicago and don't own a car, the Evanston-based Museum practically becomes a half-day trip since it is a very long walk from the CTA purple line, and bus options are limited unless you navigate yourself ahead of time. read more

The Block Museum - Opening of Exquisite Snake exhibition, July 2007 - Cinema Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I had my first visit here to explore the works of William Blake and really enjoyed the exhibit! The space is quite lovely, two floors of artifacts and pictures, movies and music, with lots of room to walk around comfortably with other guests. I really enjoyed how the space was set up to experience both the visual and audio influences Blake has had on the artistic/political communities of the world - all pieces were on loan from public and private collectors and it was such a treat to see items focused on one individual's life works. There was also a small theatre located in the center of the room that played rock music and videos from artists that looked to Blake for inspiration, and the piece in no way was obtrusive to any other part of the exhibit. - There was also a smaller Egyptian exhibit on the lower level and it was just as delightful. I had to check my backpack, but there were cozy cubbies to place personal belongings in. The elevator is spacious and the elongated staircase had safety rails and artwork to view as we made our way up the the main showr I'll keep my eye out on upcoming projects and make the trek to Evanston for Free Fun & Education! read more

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I love checking out museums of any stripe and stopped in here while visiting the Northwestern Campus for the Evanston portion of this year's Humanities Festival. The building was hard to pinpoint- at least for me- but I made my way here and I enjoyed taking in the art. As other reviewers mentioned, this is a small museum but as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. The exhibitions are innovative and remind me of what I would read about in the New York Times or an arts journal. Drawing from its collections and works from other institutions and private collectors, the Museum curates its own exhibitions--often in collaboration with Northwestern University faculty--and hosts traveling exhibitions from peer institutions. On display when I visited were an exhibit of woven materials/textiles; an Ecological Looking gallery, featuring a survey of industry - mining, agriculture, etc. - viewed through an environmental lens; and a grouping of Wangechi Mutu works. This last was the largest exhibit, as it includes multimedia and is staged in the Block's main gallery. The fact that I was able to look at everything in detail, and nicely fill the time I had between a lecture and before happy hour made me a happy camper. I probably wouldn't make this museum a destination, but for art appreciators who are looking for a unique experience, this place is worth a stop. read more

I came specifically to see a print exhibition in the alsdorf gallery and i was disappointed to see it was an empty room, seemingly under construction (not listed on the website) full of cobwebs and some kind of loose small animal (unattended) scurrying about that almost made me uncomfortable. the only reason that i'm still giving 3 stars is that the girl at the front desk was so super hot and I can't stop thinking about her. If you're reading this front desk girl please hit my line and we can go to a better museum and then spend the rest of our lives together. read more

I really wish I knew about this place long ago. This is a small art museum, but the exhibitions rotate frequently and what they show is first rate. This past weekend I saw a collection of early Robert Mapplethorpe Polaroids and a collection of 16th century works on loan from the Prado in Madrid. All of the pieces are printed works, no sculpture or other 3 dimensional pieces. Looking ahead to what's coming up, I may have to make a trip there again soon. Parking is ample and easy to access - there is a lot about a half block from the Block. The people working were all very polite and knowledgeable. The price was just right. It's free to enter, but a donation of about $5 is appropriate. The scenery around the Block is nice too. It's right by the lake and surrounded by water on 2 sides. All good reasons to make your way to the Block Museum of Art. read more

This is a truly wonderful little campus art museum. While I recently went here with a friend and didn't care for the exhibit, it was the exhibit and not the museum itself. The museum is set up nicely and easily accessible. It is a bit of a walk from the parking lot if you are elderly or disabled. Love that it is free. read more

As an employee at NU, I never really explored to ins and outs of the campus. I would see signs on CTA advertising the exhibits but would fail to visit Block to check them out. A friend was on campus and wanted to hang out do I took this as an opportunity to finally check out the museum and their Kashmir exhibit. Needless to say, I should gave been coming regularly since I started wirking at NU. The staff are friendly and very courteous. They don't hover around waiting for questions. They pretty much just left me to be as I marveled at the pieces on display. It was serenely quiet which added to the experience. I came out of there amazed at what I saw. It compelled me to even drop something in the donation box! read more

This is a great local museum. It's fairly small but sometimes has really nice exhibits. It's organized, well curated easy to get to, easy to park and affordable (donation only). read more

The Block Museum - Cinema Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I have worked here for three years now in the Cinema part of the museum, where we play some truly great films (Seven Samurai, Chinatown, and The Princess Bride to name a few). Moreover, we also have special events and movie premieres. The variety of films is matched by the quality of small exhibits change, which change seasonally and range from sculpture to photography. Oh, it's also right by the lake, so afterwards you can enjoy the view of the Chicago skyline on these last few sunny days of October. read more

A really interesting little museum that is not well enough known around Chicago. It has fascinating, always changing exhibitions (but no permanent collection on display). Lots of parking nearby, but I am giving only 4 stars since it is hard to get to the gallery by public transportation. read more

Great free museum. Visited today and found the Charlotte Moorman exhibit fascinating - especially the part with her "stuff" as she told her family to never throw anything away. Will caution the exhibit is a bit of sensory overload, but I think that's the way she would have liked it! Overall nice visit, would return again for new exhibits! read more

I visited the Block Museum to see the Design in the Age of Darwin exhibition, and was completely blown away. It was the most extensive as well as cohesive exhibition concerning late 19th to early 20th century design and decorative arts that I've ever seen. Textiles and objects ranging from William Morris through Arts and Crafts, Prairie School, Art Nouveau to Art Deco were presented in a way that communicated the development and evolution (forgive me) of the various forms in an eloquent narrative. The objects collected for the exhibition were amazing, drawn from sources located all over the United States and Europe. I would love to see the permanent collection that could rival this temporary exhibit. Full credit to the curators (both from Northwestern) for obtaining the objects as well as the masterful way in which the exhibition was curated. The security guard teased me about how long I was in the galleries. The museum doesn't charge admission, but there are donation boxes as well as a small selection of gift items located near the entrance. While the Design in the Age of Darwin exhibition is over, I recommend that anyone interested in the above-mentioned movements pick up the exhibition catalogue published by Northwestern University Press. read more