Ginny Berg

Ginny began working at Chicago Gallery News and the Art Dealers Association of Chicago right after moving to the city in 2002.  She worked with Chicago's many galleries for five years before purchasing, and taking over as publisher of, Chicago Gallery News in 2007.

Her job as art maven seamlessly overlaps with her personal interests in culture and the visual arts, and when she's not in the office laying out the next issue or combing cultural calendars, she can be found touring area galleries, talking to local art dealers, visiting artist studios as well as the latest museum exhibitions. She's also on an endless quest to inspire anyone she meets to support artists and the arts by learning about the many ways to collect art in Chicago.

Q: Favorite local Chicago artist or performer?

A: There are too many from which to pick! Really, my choices change all the time, which is one of the best things about Chicago's art community.  I always enjoy the work of painter William Conger, collage artists Tony Fitzpatrick and KS Rives, and photographers Terry Evans and Adam Ekberg.  The best part about working in the art world is that I continue to meet engaging artists at galleries, cultural events or on studio visits. So, I'm adding to my list of favorites regularly. 

Chicago also is known for having a strong alternative art community - it might not seem like it to everyone all the time, but a lot of apartment and garage galleries exist here because of affordable rent and decently sized spaces.  Students from the School of the Art Institute and Columbia College can try their hand at curating, showing work, and exploring the non-commercial side of the art world. This nascent part of the art world also leads to a lot of fun (and sometimes affordable) art discoveries.

Q: Most interesting event of 2010 so far?

A: Also a great thing about Chicago - the gallery shows, museum exhibitions and city art happenings are non-stop. So far in 2010, I've really enjoyed Incident Control - Sarah Pickering's photographs at the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP.)  I also thought that the recent art fairs, Art Chicago and NEXT, were stronger than in recent years - they're always a good starting point for the rest of the summer in the city.  Chicago also has an outstanding public art program, and many exhibitions taking place around our daily commutes, events and civic buildings are too good to pass up.  Stay tuned for events taking place as part of Chicago Artists Month in October 2010.

The opening of the Modern Wing was huge to be a part of in May 2009. The building is fabulous, the attention on our city has been unbelievable, and I can't help but be excited about all that's still to come.  When the new wing opened, the parties and press events were fabulous - but the extra space and beautiful setting means that so much more is possible. The member events and young programs that have been rolled out have really given some new energy to the museum's scene. One year later, there is a lot to look forward to.

Q: Weirdest/Wildest thing you’ve ever seen on stage or in a gallery/museum?

A: The first time I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art was with my mother when I first moved to Chicago in 2002. When we walked to the upstairs gallery, the first piece we encountered was a video loop, by artist Jeanne Dunning, of a woman sucking on her own big toe for minutes at a time.  I can't say it was my favorite piece I saw that day, but it was memorable.  And at the time, you wouldn't have seen it at the Art Institute (but you just might now at the new Modern Wing - let me know your honest thoughts about Bruce Nauman's Clown Torture video series there now...)

Q: Best performance or exhibition you've ever seen?

A: I've lived in Chicago and worked in the art world since 2002.  There are so many strong exhibitions that have come through the city's many galleries, spaces and institutions. But the best exhibition, because it's still changing and improving, is Millennium Park.  The opening of the Park in 2004 thrilled Chicagoans and visitors alike, and it's become a cultural and civic core for the city.  It was a real endorsement of the city's creativity as well as the power and importance of public art. The Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate ("the Bean") will continue to be interactive and popular for decades. The artists who created the Crown Fountain (Jaume Plensa, Spain) and Cloud Gate (Anish Kapoor, India) are from far away countries, but they are forever part of the Chicago's artistic community. Plensa is currently represented by Chicago's Richard Gray Gallery. 

Q: Favorite summer arts festival?

A: Back to that Park...  I love going to the Music Without Borders and Grant Park Music Festival summer concerts in Millennium Park. You get to hear amazing music for free, right downtown, while picnicking in the grass with friends - and you get to be surrounded by Frank Gehry's  Pritzker Pavilion and our one-of-a-kind lakeside city.