The Cool Blue Wind

By Carrie Mae Weems

About

The artwork

Renowned photographer Carrie Mae Weems assembles her own images, and work by other photographers, to create her own jazz band. Referencing a form of music that honors the group as well as the individual, the work symbolizes the democratic process. The work also features an original musical score, written to celebrate President Obama’s historic 2008 election. 

Location: Museum | Sky Room Vista

The artist

Carrie Mae Weems is an artist whose work spans photography, text, installation, video, and sound. Born in Portland, Oregon, she studied at the California Institute of the Arts and earned her MFA from UC San Diego. While widely known for her photography, her broader practice engages history, memory, and cultural narrative. In 2013, she received a MacArthur Fellowship and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Carrie Mae Weems is sitting down with her right hand holding up her head. Her face is tilted upward and she is smiling at the camera. Carrie has a light-deep skin tone and short curly hair. She has on drop earrings with a pearl at the end. She is wearing a black turtleneck top and dark pants.

Explore More

  • The Sky Room

    Head to the top of the Museum to the Sky Room, a majestic, awe-inspiring space that features panoramic views of the South Side of Chicago and art by Idris Khan, Jenny Holzer, and Carrie Mae Weems’ The Cool Blue Wind . 

    Learn More

  • The Center’s Grand Opening Playlist

    Drawing inspiration from the legacy of jazz, The Cool Blue Wind reflects the Obamas' passion for the arts, particularly music. Check out our Grand Opening Playlist to find your own inspiration to bring change home.

    Learn More (Opens in a new tab)
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