Pictured: Jeff Tweedy. Photo by Paul Natkin. 

Through the Chicago Voices initiative, a multi-year initiative celebrating Chicago’s vibrant, diverse vocal music culture, Lyric Unlimited has announced a partnership with graduate students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to present Chicago Voices VIEW, an iconic photographic exhibition that opens December 2 in three Chicago neighborhoods across the city.

Chicago Voices VIEW was conceived as a visual and artistic partnership project with graduate students in the School of the Art Institute’s Masters in Arts Administration and Policy program. Paying homage to some of the most creative and powerful vocalists in America, all with direct ties to Chicago, and featuring some of the nation’s most significant photographers, the exhibit will run concurrently through February 4th with venues located respectively on the west, north and south sides of the city:

• Homan Square Community Center, 3517 W. Arthington, Chicago (includes opening night reception open to the public December 2, 6-9p.m.)
• Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
• Ancien Cycles & Café, 1558 E. 53rd St., Chicago

Artists spotlighted in the exhibits include blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf; “The Queen of Gospel” Mahalia Jackson; “King of Soul” Sam Cooke; Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder; Wilco singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy; and beloved folk singer, Steve Goodman.

Artists contributing to the exhibits include renowned rock & roll photographer Paul Natkin, journalist and photographer Sue Cassidy Clark, blues photographer John Rockwood, photographer and filmmaker Christopher Hall, as well as classic photographs from the archives of Ebony Magazine, Chicago History Museum, Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago, and The Library of Congress.

Chicago Voices is a multi-year initiative celebrating Chicago’s vibrant, diverse vocal music culture aimed at creating an inclusive platform for celebrating the human voice while illuminating the legacy of Chicago vocal traditions and amplifying the narratives of everyday Chicagoans. Presented by Lyric Opera, Chicago Voices is spearheaded by its creative consultant Renée Fleming and is a joint project with Lyric Unlimited, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s department dedicated to education, community engagement, and new artistic initiatives.

Partners for Chicago Voices are Chicago Public Library, Chicago History Museum, Columbia College Chicago, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

CHICAGO VOICES VIEW opens to the public on Dec 2nd and runs through February 4th. For more information on the exhibit visit CHICAGO VOICES VIEW