Sense of Place

Elmhurst Art Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017 with its first open-call exhibition. The theme of the exhibition, Sense of Place, recognizes the seminal role of the Elmhurst Artists' Guild and the forward-thinking group of teachers, artists and community organizers who founded the Museum in their hometown with the belief that people from all walks of life and professions can learn how to see and think differently through the study of art, architecture and design.

Cultural geographers, anthropologists, sociologists and urban planners study why certain places hold special meaning to particular people. Many places have a strong identity and character that is deeply felt by local inhabitants and visitors. Elmhurst is a small city (population 45,000) with a strong civic culture and a community that believes in the value of shared culture, education and worship; this is part of the "sense of place" of Elmhurst. The exhibition, Sense of Place, explores the myriad tangible and intangible ways in which the visual arts can be imbued with a sense of place.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.