Art-135: Chicago Art Scenes Class The Xavierite
Saint Xavier University students who are enrolled in ART-135, Chicago Art Scenes, had exclusive access on Oct. 17 to a members only preview of a retrospective exhibition featuring the work of renowned artist Yoko Ono, an entire day before it opened to the public and the press.
The exhibition, “Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,” will be on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago from Oct. 18, 2025, through Feb. 22, 2026. This is the only U.S. venue to present “Music of the Mind,” offering a rare opportunity to experience the exhibition in person.
“Music of the Mind” is a major retrospective exhibition that traces Yoko Ono’s career since the 1950s, some of which includes work she’s done with John Lennon, her late husband. The show features more than 200 works including some of her performance footage, music, sound recordings, film, photography, and installations.
The class takes an SXU shuttle bus every Friday night to different areas of Chicago, where students explore how each area’s history has shaped its art scene. Although this may technically be an art class, you don’t need to be an art major to take it. ART-135 has no prerequisites, so any student, regardless of grade level or major, can register.
The course instructor, Chair of the SXU Art Department Nathan Peck, MFA, arranged tickets for every student. Peck explained that the opportunity came about by accident when he was purchasing his own ticket online. “I don’t know, there was a glitch on the website,” he said. “I went on to get my tickets, and I was gonna make you guys go somewhere else. But then there was a little category that said, ‘If you want to get an additional ticket for friends, here’s how you do it.’”
Curious to see how many he could reserve, Peck decided to test the system. “I was like, ‘Let me see if it lets me get twelve or ten or whatever,’ and it did,” he said.
About a week later, the museum reached out to double-check the unusually large order. “They emailed me asking, ‘Are 17 people really going with you?’” Peck recalled, laughing. “I was like, ‘Uh… yeah?’”
Peck believes the museum’s ticketing system simply didn’t have a cap on the number of reservations allowed, calling it a lucky glitch that gave his entire class access to an exclusive event usually reserved for members and art professionals.
A central theme of Ono’s is creating participatory art, inviting visitors to engage directly with a series of interactive and instruction based works.
One piece in particular had hammers attached to strings above a bucket of nails, along with step-by-step instructions on how to “complete” or become a part of the artwork itself.
Student Alvaro Saucedo interacting with “Painting to Hammer A Nail” The Xavierite
There were also several televisions with headphones attached, each telling its own story so that viewers could become fully immersed in the experience.
Short Films and People The Xavierite
While Yoko Ono was married to John Lennon, one of the cofounders of The Beatles, this exhibition focused on her entire body of work, including several pieces she created in collaboration with him.
John and Yoko Video: “Bed-In” The Xavierite
John and Yoko: “Acorn Peace” The Xavierite
Student Alvaro Saucedo shared that he could “appreciate seeing artwork from the past being put together. I felt like this was the only opportunity I would have,” referencing the retrospective nature of the Yoko Ono exhibition.
Another room featured paint markers and instructions encouraging visitors to write anything, anywhere.
Interactive Work: “Add Color (Refugee Boat)” The Xavierite
Nearby, a canvas with a hole ripped into it invited participants to shake someone’s hand through the opening, creating social interaction without knowing who might be on the other side.
Interactive Work: “Painting to Shake Hands” The Xavierite
Saucedo added, “Putting my hand through the canvas kinda scared me. I just wasn’t sure who would shake it or how long it would take,” showing how Ono’s participatory art can create a sense of vulnerability and connection.