LUMA presents two exhibitions on the work of
artist and writer Edward Gorey (1925–2000),
opening on February 15 and running through June 15, 2014.
These shows are the first major exhibitions of Gorey’s work in
Chicago, his hometown.
Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward
Gorey
and
G is for Gorey—C is for Chicago: The Collection
of Thomas Michalak
provide an in-depth and fascinating
look at this much beloved artist whose work is known for
his cautionary tales, dry wit, and characters costumed in
Edwardian style. The exhibitions feature hundreds of original
drawings, artworks, books, illustrations, and ephemera.
Gorey was born in Chicago and spent his early years in the area.
He attended middle school in Wilmette and high school at
Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. While awaiting induction
into the army, he took courses at the School of the Art Institute
of Chicago. He came from an artistic family: his father was a
Chicago newsman and writer, and his maternal grandmother,
Helen St. John Garvey, was a greeting-card designer and illustrator.
In 1943, he left Chicago and spent two years in the army. Later
he enrolled at Harvard University, graduating in 1950. A few years
later, he moved to New York City where he worked in the art
department at Doubleday. In his spare time, Gorey worked on his
own art, and a glowing review in
The New Yorker
by Edmund
Wilson in 1959 of the early works,
The Unstrung Harp
(1953),
The Listing Attic
(1954),
The Doubtful Guest
(1957),
and
The
Object Lesson
(1958),
helped to launch Gorey’s career. In 1962,
he established The Fantod Press to publish his works. A prolific
author, he wrote over one hundred books from 1953 to 1999.
Gorey considered himself to be both a writer and an illustrator,
and the composition and execution of his texts and drawings
speak to his fine artistry and his talent for poetry and drama.
Many will recognize Gorey from the opening animated credits
for the PBS television series
Mystery!
His influence on other
artists, illustrators, and sub-cultures is significant. Tim Burton—
film director, producer, and artist, and the writer Daniel Handler—
most famously known as Lemony Snicket—have both been
influenced by Gorey’s unique style and dark humor.
Elegant Enigmas
was organized by the Brandywine River
Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with the cooperation
of the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.
G is for Gorey
explores
the artist’s connections to Chicago and how his art moved into
popular culture as images of his work appear on everything
from t-shirts to lunchboxes and coffee mugs. It is a companion
exhibition from the Thomas Michalak Collection recently
given to Loyola University Chicago Libraries. Michalak
(
Loyola ’63), a retired Harvard librarian and member of the
Board of Trustees of the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth
Port, Massachusetts, has been collecting Gorey materials for
over 35 years. The exhibitions are co-presented by the Loyola
University Chicago Libraries and LUMA with the cooperation
of the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.
10
Edward Gorey is
Alive andWell and
Returning to Chicago!
Above:
Tom visits
The Vinegar Works
exhibit at The
Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts.
THOMAS J. MICHALAK
