Union League Club of Chicago

Member Spotlight: Mark Wojcik ✨ Occupation: Law Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (previously known as The John Marshall Law School). School(s): B.A. cum laude, Bradley University; J.D. cum laude, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law; LL.M. (in Trade Regulation), New York University School of Law. What prompted you to join the ULCC? Another law professor and Club member told me that joining the Club was the present you gave yourself when you became a tenured professor, so that's what I did. And my office is less than two minutes away! What did you learn about the Club after joining?  The Staff really cares about the members and making sure that everyone has a great experience every time they come to the Club. What is your fondest ULCC memory? My law school organized a wonderful reception at the Club to celebrate my inauguration into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. It was a spectacular evening for me and my husband. #clublife #members

NIAF President Robert Allegrini was recently named a Paganini Ambassador by the City of Genoa and the Paganini Prize at a ceremony held at the historic Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome. The title of Paganini Ambassador is the rarest honor confirmed by the City of Genoa and is named for the famed Genoese violinist Niccolo' Paganini. Allegrini joins other prominent Paganini Ambassadors such as Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince Amyn Aga Kahn, Prince Aimone of Savoia-Aosta and the Architect Renzo Piano. The ceremony in Rome was proceeded by a violin concert and followed by a gala dinner. In his role as a Paganini Ambassador Allegrini will promote both the City of Genoa and the Paganini Prize Competition. Pictured from left to right is the President of the Paganini Prize Giovanni Panebianco, NIAF President Robert Allegrini, Gloria Piaggio, Chief of the Cultural Department of the City of Genoa and legendary Italian political figure Gianni Letta.

Summer. Time to sit back and unwind. And enjoy warmer weather, longer days and evenings outdoors with friends. All summer long the Club has unique and unforgettable events where you can socialize, network and have a good time. There are summertime drinks especially crafted by our bartenders, summertime menus expertly created by our Chefs and summertime entertainment thoughtfully curated by our member events team. From Beer and Wine tastings to an afternoon in the park with our 2nd Act Lunch group, it’s time to sit back and unwind and enjoy summertime Chi at the Union League Club of Chicago. #summer #summertime #summertimechi #clublife

Untitled Painting by David Sharpe The ULCC's piece is from Sharpe’s early “Organic Abstraction” period with influences like Vassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee (Expressionism), Joan Miro (Surrealism) and the Pop Art movement, but also of his slightly older Chicago-based contemporaries like Ed Paschke, a group referred to as the “Chicago Imagists,” and their style as Imagism. ___________________________________________________________ David Sharpe was born in 1944 in Owensboro, Kentucky. He studied at the School of the Art Institute and worked in Chicago until 1970. He began showing his work as an undergraduate in 1964. He moved to New York city in 1970 where he still lives today. The Union League Club of Chicago's piece is dated 1972. Sharpe's work was recognized very early in his career for its formal sophistication and maturity, which some critics suggest provided him with the confidence and credibility to develop it in relatively dramatic, stylistic shifts, recognized for their command of color, handling of paint, complex compositions, and wide array of formal strategies. His work can be organized into three relatively distinct bodies: 1) Organic Abstraction, such as our piece, which mixes the traditions of Kandinsky, Klee, Miró, and Pop Art (1967–1973); 2) Abstract Landscapes from the early 1970s–1979, and 3) Abstract Representational work (late 1970s). Speaking of his early paintings, former MCA Chicago curator Lynne Warren wrote that Sharpe's work represents "an important body of abstract work" completed while Chicago Imagism was the predominant style in the city in the late 1960’s. The New Art Examiner’s Jane Allen described Imagist work as an organic blend of Imagism and mainstream American abstraction. Art in America’s Joanna Frueh suggested Sharpe’s formal experiments were a quest to realize the inspiration experienced by early modernists and the Abstract Expressionists within an independent language that rivaled, but did not imitate them - think Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Mark Rothko. Sharpe has exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), The Drawing Center, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Indianapolis Museum of Art, and Chicago Cultural Center, among others. #art #artist #chicago #expressionist #abstract #clublife

Who's Who in Club History Meet me on Kedzie John Hume Kedzie was a lawyer, an astronomer and later a real-estate developer. He was also the first Director of the Union League Club of Chicago. Kedzie was admitted to the bar in 1847, but after moving to Chicago and noticing the need for the growing city to expand past its limits, he turned to real estate development. With partners Luther L. Greenleaf, Cyrus P. Leland and John P. Wilson, he formed the Ravenswood Land Company. The company purchased two hundred acres of land near the Chicago and Great Western Railroad tracks in what is now Ravenswood, on the Northwest Side of the city, The company also planned and developed land in South Evanston. Kedzie and his partner Luther Greenleaf were benefactors to the city of Evanston, helping to found the Evanston Free Public Library in 1873. He served as the first president of the library board. Kedzie was outspoken in his opposition to slavery during the days of antebellum. He belonged to the abolitionist wing of the Republican party as it formed and came to power. In 1886, he wrote “Speculations: Solar Heat, Gravitation And Sun Spots,” diving into the scientific theories and observations surrounding the sun and its effects on Earth. Kedzie Street, which runs north and south through several neighborhoods including Mount Greenwood, Lawndale, Logan Square and North Park, is named after him; As well as Kedzie Avenue in Evanston. #chicago #chicagohistory #kedzie #clublife

The Union League Club of Chicago is known for its extensive art collection that represents the Club’s support of the arts for more than a century. Once a year, the Art Committee celebrates our own member's artistic works with an invitational exhibit. Members show off and explain the inspirations for their winning pieces in our third floor gallery. #art #arwork #artists #artcollection

Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, along with Fox Chicago's Lou Canellis, joined members and guests for a conversation about the Bears upcoming season and beyond, today at Union League Club of Chicago in partnership with Lincoln Forum. Warren's goals are to bring multiple super bowl trophies to the city, build the best and most cost-efficient stadium for the franchise, while also impacting the community and ultimately have fans be proud the Chicago Bears are their team. #chicago #chicagobears

Member Spotlight: Kwame K. Crawford ✨ Occupation: Deputy Director of Veterans Affairs School: Howard University What prompted you to join the ULCC? After relocating from Washington D.C., it was paramount for me to find a community of civically engaged professionals dedicated to making meaningful contributions to society. I sought a group that was open to social and professional connections and development – and the ULCC provides exactly that. What did you learn about the ULCC after joining? The ULCC remains an active force shaping society in Chicago and the state of Illinois, 145 years after its inception. Its sustained engagement with local, state and national leaders has played a crucial role in some policies and landmarks we have today. What is your fondest ULCC Memory? My fondest memories are of intellectually stimulating discussions at the monthly Administration of Justice sub-committee meetings. My colleagues—legal scholars, practitioners, advocates and community leaders—focus on the legal and policy issues facing our society. These meetings not only provide a platform for thought-provoking dialogue but also pave the way for real-world impact. #clublife #members

Alicia Terran & Mike Menoch's February wedding was featured in the Modern Luxury Wedding's June issue. Congratulations to the happy couple who celebrated their romantic day in the club's Presidents Hall.

Member Spotlight: Aliah Warmund ✨ Occupation: My husband and I are now retired and had been looking for a private club to join when we decided on the ULCC. Education: Chicago Vocational High School (Dick Butkus' alma mater). What prompted you to join the ULCC? I had been in the restaurant business for over 35 years and owned many fast food restaurants in places such as The Pentagon, Dulles Airport, The Smithsonian Castle and the Dam Neck Naval Base to name a few. My love of cooking, combined with travel and sampling of some of the world’s finest chef’s cuisine has now prompted me to hopefully start an International cooking club at ULCC. Fingers crossed! What did you learn about the Club after joining? I have observed the great diversity of members from all aspects of professions and life, as well as desires to make a difference in this city through wonderful charity programs and activities that bring people together. I know this is the right place for me. My husband Alan and I made the best decision joining the Union League of Chicago. It just feels right. What is your fondest ULCC memory? There have been many fond memorable times we have already had here. One of my personal favorites was the Fashion Show last year. It showcased many local boutiques as well as grand department stores. I would really love to be able to expand on the fashion world coming into the ULCC by starting up a fashion club! I think we could touch on all ages and bring designers that would otherwise not have the chance to share their vision of couture with the wonderful diverse group of men, women and children we have here at the ULCC. So far, the ULCC has been a truly refreshing experience. I can not wait to see what this year has in store for all of us and I look forward to connecting and contributing to this wonderful society. #member #clublife #chicago