Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has announced two compelling new exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center for summer 2025.
Waters of the Abyss by artist and activist Fabiola Jean-Louis, and Blondell Cummings: Dance as Moving Pictures, will take guests on poignant visual journeys exploring Black identity, heritage, and creative legacy.
Waters of the Abyss
Opening Thursday, June 19 in the Chicago Rooms of the Chicago Cultural Center, Waters of the Abyss features more than 15 works from Jean-Louis’s broader body of work.
Through sculptures, paintings, and artifacts, the series offers a meditative exploration of Black identity, freedom, and heritage.
Blondell Cummings: Dance as Moving Picture
This multimedia exhibition honors the life and legacy of pioneering choreographer and video artist Blondell Cummings, whose work helped redefine the modern dance landscape.
Dance as Moving Pictures includes excerpts from her groundbreaking 1981 film Chicken Soup, as well as archival photographs, immersive installations, and rarely seen interviews.
Embracing a spectrum of creativity
“DCASE is proud to present these two powerful exhibitions — each celebrating Black voices and histories in unique ways,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth in a statment.
“Jean‑Louis’s spiritual portals and Cummings’s multimedia choreographic legacy together demonstrate how Chicago embraces a broad spectrum of creative expression.”
