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Northwestern Pritzker Law

Campus Art Walk

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Introduction

Welcome to the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Campus Art Walk!  Over the next hour, you will learn about the art and architecture of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The tour is split into two parts: core stops, which detail chronology; and sponsored stops, developed in collaboration with student organization leaders to celebrate the diversity of the NLaw community. You might be part of our community already, as a student, professor, alumni, or staff member. If not, I hope you feel part of Northwestern by the end of our time together today.

If you have additional stories and experiences that you would like to share, please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at diversity@law.northwestern.edu.

Self-Guided Tour

You may engage with the tour either on-site as a walking tour or listen to the audio from anywhere.

The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Campus Art Walk Brochure

The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law LARGE PRINT Campus Art Walk Brochure

Man on a ladder installing Richard Hunt's statue, Why? in the Law School's courtyard. The statue is comprised of 6 long, undulating forms reaching upwards from a square base.
Five men hoisting Richard Hunt's sculpture, "Why?" into position in the courtyard with ropes and pulleys.
Three men moving another large sculpture into the upper atrium of the law school, where it remains today. The sculpture is called "Sedgewick," by artist John Henry.
A man gently dabbing the Abrahamsen oil painting of Abraham Lincoln with a folded towel. The man is hunched over, because the painting is on a table.

Core Tour

Campus Chronology, 1859-2024

Stop 1: Welcome

Glowing White, Red, and Blue Neon Sign that reads 'Elect Dawn Clark Netsh Comptroller     
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 1

Reflect: Think about what it means to feel at home or comfortable in a new place. What makes you feel welcomed?

Related Resources
links to video of the installation of the artwork at NLaw

Stop 2: Across Community


Audio Transcript, Stop 2

Reflect: Take a moment to pause. Consider the journey that leads you here, and the responsibility and privilege of being part of an elite university community. Take a moment to reflect on how you can use your past experience to make positive changes in the world. Then, with hope in your heart, make a wish for the future. Let your wishes be guided by the principle of justice and integrity, knowing that your aspirations have the potential to shape our community indelibly.

Related Resources

Stop 3: 1859-1900

Abraham Lincoln seated pensively with his hand tousling his beard. The painting is displayed between two governmental wall medallions, with a lit spotlight bar above it.    The 1942 stained glass includes the scales of justice side by side with a battleship and plane against a sunset or sunrise, and the text
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 3

Reflect: In your opinion, how does the physical environment of Lincoln Hall invite us to engage with the narratives of the past and consider our place within the continuum of institutional tradition? In what ways can we honor the contributions of past generations, while also embracing the evolution and diversity of experiences within our academic community?

Related Resources
Lincoln Hall

 

Stop 4: 1901-1925

Close up of the gold gilt hand lettering beneath the framed document facsimile, which reads    Framed constitutional facsimile stretches across five wall panels   
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 4

Reflect: How can the focus on prominent individuals overshadow the contribution of lesser known individuals in institutional narratives? How might the emphasis on one individual, like John Henry Wigmore, overshadow the collective efforts of many in shaping an institution?

Related Resources
Mr. L.C. Handy's response, September 15, 1926, reading

 

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Christian Legal Society, the St. Thomas More Society, and the First Generation Law Student Association before continuing to core stop #5.

Stop 5: 1926-1979

Long hallway framed by wooden panelling with elevated busts of men in draped, roman style garb looking down on both sides.   Chipping bust in which the original white plaster is visible on the chin of the figure.   
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 5

Reflect: Consider that the busts only depict male figures. What might this exclusivity suggest about the historical values and priorities of the institution? Now imagine yourself as a student or faculty member walking down this hallway. How might you relate to the busts? And how might your identity and background influence your perception? What impact do the continued display of these busts have on our efforts to promote diversity and inequality?

 

 
Related Resources

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Black Law Students Association before continuing to core stop #6.

Stop 6: Across Time

Straight-face woman in black judicial robes and light green blouse.    
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 6

Reflect: How do we expect portraits, such as Mary Bartelme’s, to capture their subject’s essence and legacy. How might these expectations differ based on individual perspectives and historical context?

While Mary, Dawn, and Joyce walked the halls of the school decades apart, each woman left a lasting impact on Northwestern and beyond, inspiring countless individuals to make a difference in their communities through service to others. Reflect on the themes of service and opportunity in your own life.

 

April 1931 Townsfolk Magazine Cover featuring the NLaw Bartelme Portrait, retailing for 35 cents   

 

Related Resources

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Jewish Law Students Association and the Women of Color Collective before continuing to core stop #7.

Stop 7: 1980-1999

Prowling lion with mane and relaxed tail, brushed in dark bronze patina.   Golden figure riding a horse with a raised flag blowing in the wind.
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 7

Reflect: What are your values and identities? How are they visually expressed, and are they expressed within the art collection of the Northwestern School of Law?

Related Resources

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Muslim Law Students Association and the Middle Eastern Law Students Association before continuing to core stop #8.

Stop 8: Across Space

A black woman sitting between two black children, all printed on green and blue quilted cloth with yellow embroidery on one child's dress. There is a doiley on the back of the floral couch that the girls are sitting on.     Black and white rectangular shapes are positioned vertically against a light pink background
 
 

Audio Transcript, Stop 8

Reflect: Consider your own perceptions of professionalism and how they might be influenced by your surroundings, such as the environment of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. How might the impact of local architects and artists contribute to a sense of connection between the NLaw community and the surrounding city it calls home? Consider the idea that the Law School is a microcosm of the city it inhabits. How do Northwestern and Chicago mirror and diverge from one another?

Related Resources

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Latinx Law Students Association and the Veterans Law Association before continuing to core stop #9.

Stop 9: 2000-2010

Harold Washington in suit with red tie standing in front of US and Chicago Flags
Audio Transcript, Stop 9

Reflect on the complexities of balancing artistic vision, financial constraints, and community expectations. How does the incomplete execution of the Portraits of Diverse Alumni program prompt us to consider the limitations of individual efforts in effecting systemic change? What role can institutional memory and knowledge sharing play in ensuring the continuity and success of initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and representation?

Related Resources

 

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, the LLM Committee (representing international students), and OUTLaw (representing LGBTQIA+ law students) before continuing to core stop #10.

Stop 10: 2011-2020


Audio Transcript, Stop 10

Reflect: What emotions arise when reflecting on the theme of disrupting traditional narratives of power and privilege within a physical environment? How does the continued display within the McCormick Social Justice Hallway support these aims? And which social movements inspire your own trajectory?

Related Resources
links to video with interviews from VI leaders describing projects from the initiative
 

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the Women’s Leadership Coalition, the Native American Law Students Association, and the Disability Law Society before continuing to core stop #11.

Stop 11: 2021-2024

Tapestry hanging from large stick. Tapestry is black with white circle in the middle, and a circuit board in the middle of the circle.   Abstract red painting with black lines and texture etched horizontally across the canvas

Audio Transcript, Stop 11

Reflect: How do placement, presentation, and artist intentions impact an artwork’s ability to fulfill institutional purposes both now and in the future?

Related Resources

 

Please consider visiting the sponsored stops of the South Asian Law Students Association before continuing to core stop #12.

Stop 12: Looking Forward


Audio Transcript, Stop 12

Related Resources

Sponsored Stops

Narrated by NLaw students, staff, and alumni