Amy Krouse Rosenthal: A Beauty Salon” is an interactive exhibit that celebrates the life, work, and spirit of the Chicago writer, who died in March this year at the age of 51 from ovarian cancer. Rosenthal came up with the concept of a beauty salon—where “beauty” is defined broadly and “salon” as a gathering of people to exchange ideas—last year, after her cancer diagnosis but before she knew it would take her life.
So it’s not surprising that “A Beauty Salon” encourages people to respond to it. A wall that runs the length of the gallery is painted yellow, Amy’s favorite color. The words “I was here, you see. I was,” a quote from Encyclopedia, are printed along the top in Amy’s handwriting. A plaque at eye level reads: “Amy wrote things, she did—some mundane, some monumental. What have you done? What do you do?” Markers are provided for visitors to write their answers on the wall during the exhibit’s run, although the prompt will change periodically.
In early discussions of “A Beauty Salon,” Rosenthal asked: “What is the most interesting way for someone to leave this exhibit?” She decided on an EXIT sign that reads EXCITE. “That was her last very concrete contribution, which was fabulous,” Western says, “and in terms of her leaving the project was also kind of a perfect exit.” v
Through 8/12: Tue-Fri 10:30 AM-6 PM, Sat 11 AM-5 PM Carrie Secrist Gallery 835 W. Washington 312-491-0917secristgallery.com Free
