Pierre Bismuth: Love Bless America

The exhibition explores the relationship between divine love and America’s tradition of spiritual and gospel music.

For the centerpiece of the exhibition, Bismuth invited Chicago-based bassist Joshua Abrams and pianist Sharon Udoh to create a contemporary spiritual based on a hymn written by the artist. Filmed from multiple angles during their collaboration, the resulting long-form film offers a meditation on music, creativity, and spiritual expression.

The exhibition also features a series of digital, flag-inspired works combining elements of national flags with lines from Bismuth’s hymn, bringing together references to countries including China, Greenland, Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Known for his work across film, video, painting, sculpture, installation, and collage, Pierre Bismuth also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and directed Where Is Rocky II (2016).

Curator Talk at the Alliance Française

On October 15, the Alliance Française de Chicago welcomes curator Dieter Roelstraete for a conversation about the exhibition and the making of Bismuth’s film, including the collaboration between Abrams and Udoh. The evening will feature a screening of an excerpt from the film, followed by a reception.
October 15 – 6:30 p.m. – Alliance Française de Chicago – Julius Lewis Auditorium
More info here.

Known for his work across film, video, painting, sculpture, installation, and collage, Bismuth also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and directed Where Is Rocky II (2016).

Love Bless America is supported by the Neubauer Family Foundation, the Brenda Mulmed Shapiro Fund, Bernard Friedman and Flying Mind, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, and the France Chicago Center at the University of Chicago.