Discover the story behind ceramic sculptor Ruth Duckworth’s 1968 masterpiece mural “Clouds Over Lake Michigan,” now on permanent display at UChicago’s Joseph Regenstein Library. Installed to correspond with the Smart Museum of Art’s 2024 exhibition, Ruth Duckworth: Life as a Unity , the 2,500 pound work is composed of 65 individual clay tiles and depicts an aerial view of the southern tip of Lake Michigan—drawing inspiration from Duckworth’s love of nature and relationship with pioneering UChicago geophysicists like meteorologist Prof. Tetsuya “Ted” Fujita. The article and featured video in UChicago News profiles the artist, the exhibition, and the history of the mural.
Explore the story of Ruth Duckworth’s 1968 mural Clouds Over Lake Michigan, now permanently displayed at UChicago’s Regenstein Library. Installed alongside the Smart Museum’s 2024 exhibition Ruth Duckworth: Life as a Unity, the 2,500-pound mural reflects Duckworth’s love of nature and connections with UChicago geophysicists like Prof. Ted Fujita. Read more in UChicago News.
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An initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art in partnership with artists and organizations across the city, Art Design Chicago is a series of events and exhibitions that highlight the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
