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Doc Films Club & "Year Zero" @ The Rennaisance Society (Thumbtack)

Margarita Mejia

In this week's Thumbtack post, I will be debriefing about my little visit to Hyde park. If you haven’t gone to visit Doc Films Club at UChicago’s campus, I highly recommend going for a film to either revisit or go in blindly for. 


vintage postcard part of Lincoln's Hole, Family Bible
vintage postcard part of Lincoln's Hole, Family Bible

Located near the UChicago Metra station, Doc Films Club is a student-run film theater that plays at least two films a week. If you want to experience a screening, tickets are $7 at the door and start selling half an hour before the show starts. If you’re much earlier to a matinee show and want to grab a quick bite to eat or sip a tasty beverage, Plein Air Cafe is around the block. Although a relatively small cafe compared to many in Chicago, they feature lots of seating and hot food items with a pickup window. The many windows by the seating provide lots of natural lighting. I will visit again someday when the weather is not below 20 degrees . . . 


Visiting The Renaissance Society’s exhibition was a totally impulsive activity as I only intended to get coffee and go see a movie. The directory sign next to the building caught my eye and was in a convenient location. I was in awe at the usage of the building space (the floors, the display casing on the walls). It’s fascinating when spaces that aren’t intended for exhibitions become converted into practical ones. The current show at the space is called Isabelle Frances McGuire Year Zero which is their solo exhibition. It is running until February 9th so there are only a short amount of weeks to go visit! 


photo taken by Renaissance Society member
photo taken by Renaissance Society member

When you arrive at the building there is a staircase that leads to an elevator (which is a little concerning/confusing as I wonder how people that are handicapped are able to explore the building). You take the elevator to the 4th floor where the Ren Society is located, and there you sign in and get to experience the exhibition for free. One of the staff members handed me a poster designed and photographed by McGuire that is included in the description of the exhibition handout labeled as Depo Provera. The paper handout features her bio and what each of the pieces are sourced from. Two of the installations are a sort of pair that are called Sleeping Vampire. They replicate child-bodied mannequins, one in a Santa Claus costume and the paralleled one in a Jesus costume. They lie upon imitation dirt, sort of like an open coffin. Many of McGuire's pieces are related to 3D printed media modeled from CT scans of anonymous women. There is also video media in the display cases with no audio playing.


Once leaving the exhibition, I questioned why the inspiration from Abraham lincoln? Why are Jesus and Santa Claus "sleeping" in their coffins next to the massive cabin model? I thought there was much symbolism in McGuire's translation of traditional and familiar icons to contemporary technology in the modern art world. They use a very innovative and yet controversial tool to use in the practice of sculpture in how figures and past construction can be rebirthed.



Underworld installation in display case
Underworld installation in display case

I'm excited to see what the next exhibition and future events will be at the Renaissance Society space. It is a very cute spot in the city to go with a friend to leaving you with new inspiring conversations to contemplate over.

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