Brendan Fernandes, a Chicago-based visual and performing artist, has created an evolving dance work titled *Score for the Murphy Auditorium* as part of his nearly year-long exhibition *In the Round* at the Driehaus Museum's newly acquired Murphy Auditorium. The piece features seven dancers moving around a 12-sided mirrored bench, with choreography inspired by the 1960s Judson Dance Theater, and includes textile works from the Fabric Workshop and Museum and a sound installation by Alex Inglizian. The auditorium, built in 1926 and designated a Chicago landmark in 2024, underwent renovation after being acquired by the Driehaus Museum in 2022.
This project matters because it represents the Driehaus Museum's first artist-in-residence program and its commitment to blending Gilded Age architecture with contemporary art. By inviting visitors to move freely around the dancers and hosting open rehearsals with Chicago's dance community, Fernandes challenges traditional exhibition formats and explores the political and collaborative potential of dance. The work highlights how historic spaces can be revitalized through interdisciplinary artistic practice, setting a precedent for future programming at the museum.