Clef Notes Chicagoland Journal for the Arts Spring 2019 Digital Edition of Clef Notes Journal | Page 4

From the Publisher’s Desk Many arts and culture fans will agree that one of the most rewarding aspects of cultural exploration is the sense of discovery that often results. It’s that element of discovery that keeps our relationship with the arts new and exciting. That is why I will never tire of a lavish Lyric Opera production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro or a walk through the Museum of Contemporary Art’s incredible galleries. The exploration always, always, always leads to something you hadn’t known or noticed before, something wonderful, something new. It’s an integral part of the arts and culture experience. This spring season, Chicago arts and culture is rife with the discovery that comes with exploration, and Clef Notes Journal is here for a front seat in the whole experience, one that keeps us coming back for more. Take, for instance, American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Back this spring the Auditorium Theater, the world renowned company will present the Chicago premiere of Alexander Ratmansky’s Whipped Cream. Billed as a whimsical story ballet, Whipped Cream is quite a departure from the typi- cal sober dance aesthetic for which ABT’s first Artist-In- Residence is chiefly known. The new work is a revelation of the choreographer’s seldom seen, playful, whimsical side. It’s a refreshing look at the dance aesthetic of the pre-em- inent ballet creator of our time, a look that offers a broader un- derstanding of his artistic vi- sion. We profile the new work and the company’s upcoming Above: American Ballet Theatre in a scene from Alexander performance in Chicago this Ratmansky's Whipped Cream. spring. Likewise, we take an insider’s look at the science of photo preservation at the Art Institute of Chicago by way of a new exhibition entitled Conserving Photographs. The exhibition seeks to unveil the hidden work museum conservators undertake every day to protect and preserve the delicate photography in their massive collection. It works to give patrons a new perspective on the photographs we see on museum walls, to see their fragil- ity, their vulnerability, their diversity of materials and creation, and perhaps therefore their true value. Finally, we sit down with Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s (CST) award-winning artistic director, Barbara Gaines, as she and CST prepare to mount a new and exciting production of Hamlet this spring. We look at the powerful discoveries she made about Shakespeare’s iconic character and herself as she prepared to return to this work after 20 years. These are just a few of the discoveries that await in the Spring 2019 issue of Clef Notes Journal. Hopefully, they'll inspire you to get out into our wondrous city for even greater revelations amid the arts and culture on tap this spring. Sincerely, Clef N tes Chicagoland Journal for the Arts SPRING 2019 Publisher D. Webb Editorial Editor in Chief Patrick M. Curran II Associate Editors Fred Cummings Scott Elam Christopher Hopper Editorial Support Rachel Cullen Staff Writers and Contributors Raymond Benson David Berner Isaac Jacobs Oliver Peterson Leslie Price Jordan Reinwald Daniel A. Scurek Art & Design Art Director Carl Benjamin Smith Contributing Photographers Colin Lyons Lorenzo de Gregorio Michelle Mustard Graphics & Design Chelsea Davis Angela Chang Social Media Manager Mary Henley Advertising Jason Montgomery [email protected] D. Webb Publisher 4•CNCJASpring 2019 Subscriptions Clef Notes is published quarterly (March, June, September and December) each year. An annual subscription to the magazine may be purchased by mailing a check or money order for $18 to Clef Notes Publishing, Inc., 233 S. Wacker Drive, Ste. LL1A #6294, Chicago, IL 60606. Bulk rates are also available. Credit card purchases may be secured online at ClefNotesJournal.com or by calling 773.741.5502. © 2019 CNP Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA.