Mapping Dystopia, Dammit!

Unlike the vast majority of the Chicago Jews I know, I happen to think very highly of the new building, museum, and overall theme of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. But I’m an anomaly. Both lifelong and rookie Chicagoans alike usually find the building to be cold and uninviting, or the exhibits to be confusing and inappropriate, but I love that the building is modern and the art is edgy and controversial. To me, it says that Judaism in Chicago is thriving, futuristic, and an integral part of the City of Chicago.

But I think all Spertans, regardless of their stances on this issue, can agree that the new Spertus certainly is democratic. This is a pretty big deal for Chicago Jews.

Their newest exhibit, Imaginary Coordinates, closed two months early on Friday because of the uproar it caused in the community. Originally called Mapping Dystopia, the new exhibit was Spertus’ answer to the Field Museum’s Maps exhibit, and was intended to get people’s attentions. Here is the short version in Spertus’ own words:

Imaginary Coordinates is a multi-media exhibition inspired by and including rare and antique maps of the Holy Land from Spertus' collection. These maps were brought together with objects of material culture and contemporary works by renowned Israeli- and Palestinian-born women artists. The works in the exhibition convey varying perspectives about Middle East borders and boundaries. One of the exhibition’s goals was to foster conversation on this subject.

I believe that conversation is an integral part of any art, and the Board of Trustees at Spertus is stifling that conversation. Nevertheless, I appreciate and defend the museum’s response to the community's objections. Most Chicago Jews are used to the overlord machine that is the JUF/JF, and whether you embrace or resent the museum’s move, you have to be a little bit shocked that there was this degree of democracy at play. So, while I strongly disagree with the early closing of the exhibit, I accept it and I am proud to be a part of such a strong, active, and vocal Jewish community, however stodgy and conservative most of its members may be. I think it’s safe to say that, for better or worse, this could never have happened just anywhere else.