Visual Artists and the Law
Spring 2015

Art on the 29th Floor

Artwork from the Cook County Law Library

The Cook County Law Library has an ongoing collaboration with the Illinois Artisans Program of the Illinois State Museum to display the work of juried artists in the Law Library. The Illinois Artisans Program provides venues for Illinois artisans to display and promote their work.

Artisans work in a range of media. To date, artwork in the Law Library has included oil paintings, photographs, and oil pastels. The art exhibitions are on semi-annual rotation cycle.

On September 26, 2013, the Cook County Law Library celebrated its 50th anniversary with a rededication ceremony. After the ceremony in the Daley Center Lobby, the first in a series of art exhibits was unveiled during the reception in the Law Library.

Visual Artists and the Law

The opening for the second installation was March 20, 2014. In connection with the opening, the Cook County Law Library held a discussion forum on “Visual Artists and the Law” in the South Reading Room of the Law Library. The featured speaker was William Rattner, Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Mr. Rattner spoke on what visual artists should know about the law.

Visual Artists and the Law - art from Illinois Artisans Program
Invitation to the Grand Opening of a New Art Display, Cook County Law Library, March 20, 2014.

Copyright Protection and Contract Negotiation Tactics

The third and current art installation opened on September 25, 2014. The Cook County Law Library (in collaboration with the Illinois Artisans Program, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, and Leavens, Strand & Glover, LLC) presented a program featuring Heather Liberman from Leavens, Strand & Glover. Liberman discussed “Copyright Protection and Contract Negotiation Tactics,” focusing on contract negotiation tactics and strategies for artists. Following the presentation, the artists described their work in a brief ceremony. The evening ended with a light reception.

The artwork hangs in the public services area of the Law Library. This public venue enables patrons and staff alike to admire and enjoy the works.

Art on 29 - art from Illinois Artisans Program
Art on display at the Cook County Law Library. Artwork by Kambua Chema and Patrick Miceli (Illinois Artisans Program, Illinois State Museum).

For additional information about the artwork featured at the Cook County Law Library, see these videos of artists, Beth Shadur and Kathryn Collins, discussing their work: