Looking at the idea of failure and drawing from pop culture inspirations, Michael Rea creates enormous wooden sculptures. To borrow from Jeriah Hildwine, he produces a “wooden wonderland for nerds.” Remnants of your favorite movie or book are manipulated, altered, and combined in an attractively entertaining way. Last weekend, I caught up with Mike for a studio visit and interview. We spoke about... 

Two viewers examining a piece from "The Tremendous Alone", an exhibition of work by Matt Woodward at the Elmhurst Art Museum . December 31, 2011. (Photo credit: Zachary Johnson) Mies van der Rohe only  designed three houses in the US. One is in Connecticut, one is the Farnsworth House in Plano, IL, and the third, since 1994, is the home of the Elmhurst Art Museum (EAM). Now in its 32nd...