Posted 5 years ago in Guest Blog by Alyssa Martinez Pitchfork Music Festival
Pitchfork and The Art Institute of Chicago today announce Midwinter, an all-new music and art experience taking place February 15-17 in the Chicago Loop. The three-day event will bring together thought-provoking musical performances with iconic works of art. A truly elevated experience, it will feature more than 30 musical acts, produced by Pitchfork, performing amid masterpieces from the Art Institute's wide-ranging collection. Select performances will also include original music productions inspired by art in the museum.
“Midwinter is an ambitious new concept, and with it, we’re intentionally trying to push the boundaries of live music. Placing forward-thinking musicians in the context of the Art Institute, we’re opening a dialogue between mediums, and creating a unique cultural event," said Pitchfork Festival Director Adam Krefman. "This February, you'll be able to look at a Monet while listening to original music from Nico Muhly; Laurie Anderson will occupy the same space as Georgia O’Keeffe, while the glitch-rap of JPEGMAFIA is playing in another wing of the museum. I can't think of another event quite like it, and we are excited to bring it to life in Chicago."
The Midwinter lineup features Kamasi Washington, Oneohtrix Point Never, Slowdive, Panda Bear, Laurie Anderson, DJ Koze, Tortoise (TNT 21st Anniversary Performance), William Basinski (The Disintegration Loops with the Chicago Philharmonic and On Time Out of Time), Perfume Genius, Deerhunter, Zola Jesus, Joey Purp, Mykki Blanco, Mount Eerie, Grouper, Jlin, Yves Tumor, Weyes Blood, Hiss Golden Messenger, Serpentwithfeet, JPEGMAFIA, Sudan Archives, Madison McFerrin, Mary Lattimore, Daniel Bachman, Haley Fohr (of Circuit des Yeux), Marisa Anderson, Smerzand Baba Stiltz.
In addition to live performances, Midwinter will feature original pre-recorded compositions, unearthed recordings, and soundscapes from Nico Muhly, Tashi Wada & Julia Holter, Stars of the Lid, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Midori Takada, Visible Cloaks, Helado Negro and Ilyas Ahmed. These pieces of music will be inspired by and respond to iconic pieces in the museum’s collection.
“The Art Institute is thrilled to collaborate with Pitchfork on the development and presentation of a new, unprecedented art and music experience,” said Jacqueline Terrassa, Women’s Board Chair of Learning and Public Engagement. “Midwinter expands the possibilities of what audiences can experience at an art museum, and—uniquely—at the Art Institute. Like so many works of art in our galleries, which both drew from and upturned traditions when they were first made, Midwinter foregrounds creative practice as visionary, highly interdisciplinary, and genre-defying.”
Pitchfork Radio will also broadcast live from Midwinter. Attendees can sit in on artist interviews, enjoy intimate performances, and listen to deep cuts from rare vinyl collections and playlists curated by Pitchfork editors.
Tickets for Midwinter start at $50 per day for a single night general admission ticket, which includes access to The Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, select musical performances, gallery soundscapes, and live recordings of Pitchfork Radio. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for special add-on performances starting at $15. Tickets are available at http://midwinter.pitchfork.com/
