1134 West Washington Blvd. Chicago, Illinois 60607
Telephone (312) 226-1007 Fax (312) 829-9636
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The Museum of Holography/Chicago is an institution specifically dedicated to display, promote, and encourage the advancement of holography as an art form and as a facility for both teaching and research into its potential. Founded in 1976, the museum houses not only an exhibit area, but a School of Holography that has taught several thousand students. Its research center has been in the forefront of experimentation and development in computer generated holography, natural color holography and photoresist holography. It is perhaps the only, and certainly the most complete, such institution in the country, if not the world. In addition to the museums ten thousand square feet of exhibition space, the facility contains separate and fully equipped labs for beginning, intermediate and advanced work as well as separate facilities for pure experimentation. The School of Holography's curriculum is augmented by courses in optics and photochemistry, interdependent scientific disciplines; Multimedia, a course dealing with light and sound as aesthetic elements; and Art & Holography, a course designed to give student a perspective of the relationships between art and science. The Museum features special exhibitions and maintains a permanent display of holograms for public viewing, many of them of historic importance. The Museum's archives, through its acquisitions over the years, now contains, perhaps the most representative and extensive collection of holograms in the world; holograms representing significant historic, artistic and experimental advances in holography. As part of its program to bring to the general public an awareness and appreciation of the medium in its artistic and scientific aspects, as well as some insight into the possible changes holography might impose on the quality of life, the Museum conducts numerous workshops and lectures on its own premises as well as at those of interested organizations. Each year the Museum conducts hundreds of lecture tours for school groups, ranging from grammar to college, as well as for other groups and organizations interested in Holography as both an art form and a scientific discipline. The Museum has worked with such colleges and universities as the University of lllinois, Roosevelt University, The University of Chicago, the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers, Northwestern University, educational reach out programs, such as the Educational Resource Center, as well as numerous high school and grammar school groups.
Holography is an outgrowth of the most advanced science and technology of our age. In the simplest terms it is the ability to produce three dimensional representations down to molecular exactness. It promises to have profound affect on every area and field of human endeavor -- engineering, architecture, the arts, entertainment and advertising. As a concept that is only approximately 50 years old, its potential as a practical reality did not even begin to be realized until the development of a workable laser in the early 1960's. Given that short period of conception and gestation it is understandable that the field is still in its early stages of developement. Opportunities for discovery and innovation are literally unlimited, not only in its artistic, scientific and commercial applications but in its basic tools as well -- film, photochemistry, laser development, development of other power sources.
The School of Holography's teaching staff is headed by individuals who have done distinguished pioneering work in holography and who enjoy nationally recognized reputations in the field of optics and photochemistry.
Academic Acceptance -- The combined excellence of our staff, our programs and our physical facility in this highly specialized field have earned us the recognition of other teaching institutions. The University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus, The City College system recognizes grades received at the School of Holography in their own degree programs and will permit students to attend the school on a credit basis. We are currently discussing similar academic arrangements with other institutions.
The Museum of Holography/Chicago is a non profit organization supported wholly by donations.