INFINITE GAMES

In 2013, despite significant protest, the City of Chicago closed 50 public schools (CPS), displacing 12,000 children, predominantly in the city’s south and west side neighborhoods. For Infinite Games, based on the title of the book by theologian James Carse, Preus invited 50 artists and designers to engage with the warehouse of materials Preus collected from the 50 closed schools. In conjunction with Rhona Hoffman gallery, the 3 floors of Open House Contemporary, an artist-run apartment gallery in Chicago were dedicated to objects and installations produced using the school materials. In addition to the exhibition, a publication was produced by the Invisible Institute featuring text from David Knight. and Preus.

Gratitude to Matt Kellen, and Kevin Clarke of Open House Contemporary for their many hours of assistance with the installation and coordination of the exhibition.

Participating artists created installations, objects, wall pieces, functional work, interventions, and off- site projects for a 6-month exhibition at (OHC), opened concurrently with EXPO Chicago and the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Located at 740 N Ogden, OHC is a gallery and award-winning AirBnb, owned and operated by artist and designer Matthew Kellen. Local artists will make work, with fabrication and collaboration as needed, while international participants will send designs for prototyping or adaptation to the CPS materials.

Alberto Aguilar

Memorial (Phoenix), 2017
Ink jet print in custom made frame by John Preus
18 x 21 inches

Mark Baker

Smoke, 50 Units), 2017
Earthenware, pit-fired with discarded CPS furniture
Dimensions variable

Iris Bernblum

You love me too, 2017
CPS Chair, crayons, spray paint, beeswax

Jeremy Boyle.

@astheysaytheysay

Unbordered, 2017 Oak table legs

Parsons and Charlesworth

Educated, 2017
Chrome plated steel, silicon, paperbacks

Juan Angel Chavez

Untitled, 2017
Mixed media

Tadd Cowen

Legs that go all the way up, 2017
16 hairpin legs, two oak tops, 33 bolts, 33 nuts

Lily Dietrich

Untitled, 2017
Repurposed Chicago public school desks,
chewing gum

Jim Duignan

Portable Fast Pitch, 2017
Found Chicago public school drawing
board, tape, and drawing

Assaf Evron

Untitled (ca-hhm-luv), 2015 MDF/Epoxy

Douglas Ewart

Public School, Public Place, Public Chair, Public Perch, Public School, Public Pinnacle, 2016 First Chair:
Public School, Public Place,

Public Chair, Public Perch,
Public School, Public Pinnacle, 2016 Chicago
Public School Chair, Number 18, Construction
Date 1961, Chicago Board of ED; Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys Negro) Chimes; Nylon Cord,
Bamboo and Aluminum Rod Chime; Aluminum Plate Gong; Deer Skin Chair Drum; Plywood
Cajon; Steel Couch Legs Bells; Piano Wire, Eyelet Screw and Guitar Tuning Machine (Chair Berimbau/ Monochord), Steel Nuts and Bolts, and
a Pentatonically Tuned Aluminum Rod Chimes