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(Above) A barge carrying the Floating Museum, docked along the Riverwalk west of Clark Street on August 15. On top of the barge is what the museum calls a “wonder cabinet” made from crates, in which work by local artists is displayed. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

18-Aug-17 – Whether it’s a museum is debatable but it does float. The “Floating Museum,” on a barge docked along the Chicago Riverwalk between Clark and LaSalle Streets, is showcasing work by local artists.

The mobile art gallery, according to its website, is meant to “challenge traditional museum thinking and generate community engagement and conversation.”

It has been at the Riverwalk since August 14 and will be there through August 28.

Photo by Steven Dahlman (Left) A man walks a dog past the Floating Museum on the Riverwalk west of Clark Street. The yellow sculpture at the end of the barge is a bust of Chicago settler Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable.

Announced on May 5, the Floating Museum is part of Night Out in the Parks, a series of events throughout Chicago that include film, concerts, and theater. More than 1,700 local artists will participate, according to the mayor’s office, and every neighborhood park.

The big event will be on August 27. art.i.fact, says the city, will be “an intersection of art, history, and discipline.” Live music, dance performances, and video art is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. A finale event will feature a full choir.

Informal tours of the museum are given every day at noon. A dance party with DJ is scheduled for Friday from noon to 1 p.m. On August 23, 6-8 p.m., blues and gospel musicians will perform.

 More info: Floating Museum