In our one and only, extended cut episode of season 7, we talk with Architect Duo Dickenson and SAIC Professor Douglas Pancoast about the changing landscape of architecture in our society today. But it's not just about buildings. It's about us.  ..read more

In the second episode of this season, we take a peek inside Patient Info—a DIY artist space here in Chicago that retains the structure of its former purpose: a doctor's office. To get a better understanding of the space and how its intact history converses with the work showcased in the venue, we sat down with MFA student and Director of Patient Info, Brian Jucas. Patient Info Instagram: @patientinfo Patient Info Website: patientinfo.club SAIC BEAT Instagram: @saicbeat ..read more

In this two-part season, we speak with SAIC students working beyond the studio, outside the institute—After hours. Our first episode follows BFA student Katherine Skwira-Brown as she guides us through the complicated creation process of her Terrain Biennial exhibition piece, 'Porch Portal'. Katherine’s Instagram: @katskiraart SAIC BEAT Instagram: @saicbeat Terrain Biannual website: https://terrainexhibitions.org   ..read more

After exploring the history of SAIC's first dormitory as a former Playboy mansion, we had a lot of questions about how to talk about sex and sex work in the institutional space. So, in this follow-up episode, we speak with Shawné Michaelain Holloway, an SAIC professor and alum who recently taught a course titled "Sex and Gender in New Media." A large part of Shawné's instruction involves a critical engagement with existing ideas of sex and gender, so we asked her to share her observations about how these conversations have evolved over the years. For more information about Shawné's creative an ..read more

In this two-part season, we’ll explore how conversations about sex, gender, and sex work have evolved at SAIC over the years. Our first episode recounts the story of SAIC’s first residence hall — the original Playboy mansion — and poses some of the questions we can ask now, as artists and students ..read more

When the U.S. put sanctions on Syria in December of 2019, Sami Ismat (MFA 2020) questioned this sequence of events through a performance that brought participants into the mind of a whistleblower. In this final episode of Season 4, Sami explains why exposing injustice is not always foolproof ..read more

MFA first year Zhisheng Wu describes a project he worked on with residents of a shantytown in Southern China to preserve their memories after the demolition and reconstruction of their home. His sculpture, titled Message Wall, combined the bricks from the fallen town and the dreams and wishes of its residents into a single form to honor the community’s roots.   To learn more about Zhisheng's work visit http://www.wuzhisheng.art/   ..read more

Artist, researcher and School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Education professor Nicole Marroquín describes a critical moment of activism among Black and Latinx Chicago youth in the early 1970s — the Harrison and Froebel High School student uprisings, which were a grassroots response to racial injustice in the city’s public education system and beyond. Background music in this episode includes: “Backed Vibes” and “Study and Relax” by Kevin Macleod     ..read more

Brontë's stories: 1. At 14, her likeness landed on a Japanese billboard 2. While shopping for a tartan bag, met someone whose famous ancestor killed her famous ancestor 3. Got dumped at a military ball in an English castle Which is honest? Which are deceitful, falsehood-laden subterfuge? Click play to find out! Possible band names arising from our conversation: The On-Again, Off-Again Boyfriends Naval Rave Illegal Tweed ..read more

Anna's stories: 1. Introduced to Canada by a moose in heat 2. Followed on Twitter by Coco Peru, drag queen extraordinaire 3. Rescued from a sewer grate by power-drill-touting dad Which one is the truth? Which two are dirty, dirty lies? Listen to find out! Possible band names arising from our conversation: 1. Normal Dads 2. The Meese Have Eyes 3. Tension Tamer ..read more