Leather Archives & Museum review
The Leather Archives & Museum keeps a public index of past guest exhibitions. I’d start there with one title or one artist. It’s a way to see how a Chicago archive of leather and kink culture brings its collections into a conversation with artists working today.
Follow the objects from one show to the next
Andrew Bearnot’s *Fruiting Bodies* puts new work alongside items from the museum’s collection, including material from Chuck Renslow and Sam Steward. *MaterialKink*, curated by José Santiago Pérez, brings together several artists and spans textiles, sculpture, video and other media. I’d open the first page to see how one artist worked with an archive, then the second to follow a material across different artists’ work.
Separate the show notes from a research visit
The museum’s building is closed for renovation. The past exhibition notes are open online, and the museum posts separate updates about the work on the building. Its Online Catalog page also says the catalogue is being upgraded. I’d use the public show notes to find names and titles I can follow up on. For a guide organised by the rooms of a physical collection, I’d read the Erotic Heritage Museum review. Here, the dates help me follow exhibitions that have already closed.
Anabel’s take
I’d start with *Fruiting Bodies* and make a note of one name from the collection as well as the guest artist. That gives me a second trail to follow after the exhibition page.