Upcoming Event
6:00 pm November 19th
Boundaries/Borders — A Conversation with Elaine Byrne and Aliza Shvarts
Boundaries/Borders
In conjunction with Drifting Sovereignty, Irish artist Elaine Byrne will join Aliza Shvarts (Director of SAIC's Low-Residency MFA and Assistant Professor, Performance) for a conversation titled Boundaries/Borders on Wednesday from 6–8 pm.
The talk will explore how bordering practices—political, social, and psychological—shape our sense of belonging and exclusion. Drawing on Byrne’s PhD research into borders and the multimodal essay film, the discussion will consider how art can make visible the power structures embedded in the act of drawing a line.
Byrne and Shvarts previously collaborated on Cold Rush (2017), an exhibition addressing the Arctic as a site of geopolitical tension. Their ongoing dialogue continues to ask how art might rethink the borders that define, divide, and drift between us.
Elaine Byrne: Drifting Sovereignty
November 5 - 29, 2025
Our Mission
The John David Mooney Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational arts organization located in Chicago, IL.
The Mooney Foundation is a collaborative workspace, a public venue, an artistic laboratory and a working archive. The Foundation utilizes its multiple gallery spaces to exhibit art and host events.
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With a focus on international art and artists, the Foundation offers free public exhibitions, lectures and educational seminars throughout the year.
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For over 40 years, the John David Mooney Foundation has also offered Internships and Apprenticeships aimed at providing artists with the opportunities to create new works, gain exposure, and develop new leadership opportunities within the community at large.
The Foundation's work is for the community, and it is sustained by the community.
The John David Mooney Foundation offers its programs and exhibitions on a complimentary basis to all.
Our mission to create wholly accessible public platforms for creative and cross-cultural discourse in Chicago is accomplished thanks to the commitment of donors, volunteers, and advocates who give of their time, talent, and resources.