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Shedd Aquarium

Art on theMART Summer 2022 Program

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Thu, Jun 30 – Wed, Sep 07, 2022

222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654

Art on theMART is the world's largest permanent digital art projection stretching across 2.5 acres of theMART's river facade.

Come down to the riverwalk starting June 30 for Art on theMart’s debut of Billiken: a large-scale work composed of video footage and animated imagery that celebrates the talented youth dance groups and marching bands in Chicago’s annual Bud Billiken Parade, the largest and longest-running African American parade in the U.S.! 

Billiken is directed by fourth generation youth dance troupe leader Shkunna Stewart and Time Out Best in the City Award-winner Wills Glasspiegel. The display also features animations by Brandon K. Calhoun with music from DJ RP Boo, a legendary trailblazer in Chicago’s house music and footwork dance scenes. RP Boo’s music includes samples from Rich Township Marching Machine, a youth marching band from Rich Township High School in the south suburbs.  

Bridging local and international arts communities, summer 2022 will also see explore, a work by international artist Jonas Denzel. The two new pieces will play twice nightly at 9 p.m. through September 7, 2022 alongside Nick Cave’s Ba Boom Boom Pa Pop Pop in the 9:30 p.m. slot. 

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