The New Modern Wing of the Art Institute in Chicago

Famed and highly respected architect Renzo Piano has done it again! This week reveals the official opening (finally) of the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The new $294 million addition opens on Saturday and holds the museums collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. This new addition of 264,000 square feet of interior space to the museum's floor plan makes it the 2nd largest museum in the country after the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.

In order to celebrate and promote it's socks off, the Art Institute is hosting a day filled with free activities that includes music and dance throughout the galleries, as well as performances on a Monroe Street stage by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Muntu Dance Theatre, Swing Gitan, Wooten Choral Ensemble, and many more. They are also offering the opportunity for families to enjoy art-making activities and meet Artie the Lion at the new Ryan Education Center.

Even better on the budget side of things, the museum is offering free admission from May 16-22 and encouraging other people to give back by sponsoring a food drive in relation to this spectacular opening week. They are asking that people bring a canned good or nonperishable item to contribute to the Greater Chicago Food Depository (use the Millennium Park entrance on Monroe Street).

If you live within traveling distance of the Art Institute, I highly recommend taking advantage of these opportunities. A newly revealed Renzo Piano design, free music, free art-making activities, close proximity to some of the most renowned architecture in the US, and did I mention it's all completely free: what more could an architecture and arts junkie ask for?!?

May inspiration and creativity be with you!