In anticipation of Chicago’s 175th Birthday on March 4, The Flag and Seal Revisited, a new component of the Pulled, Pressed & Printed, Chicago exhibition currently running at Expo 72, will feature artworks that riff on the Chicago flag and seal.

The Flag and Seal Revisited and Pulled, Pressed & Printed, Chicago both focus on etching, engraving and screenprinting from a variety of Chicago printing presses and independent artists.

The Flag and Seal Revisited will be unveiled on Friday, March 2 with a free reception open to the public from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Expo 72, 72 E. Randolph Street. Expo 72 is open Mondays – Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is free. Pulled, Pressed & Printed, Chicago and The Flag and Seal Revisited run through April 30. For more information, visit www.ExploreChicago.org.

A brief history of the Chicago flag and seal written by Tim Samuelson, cultural historian for the City of Chicago, will be featured in the exhibition. Artwork will be updated with artists’ reinterpretations of the flag and seal throughout the exhibition’s run.

The public is invited to create their own versions of the Chicago flag and seal on Saturday, March 3, from 1 – 4 p.m. at a free workshop and printmaking demonstration presented by Spudnik Press. Participants will have an opportunity to ink and print on paper using an etched plate and a portable press. Materials will be provided.

Pulled, Pressed & Printed, Chicago and The Flag and Seal Revisited are presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. The Flag and Seal Revisited component of Pulled, Pressed & Printed, Chicago promotes the upcoming 175th Birthday of the City of Chicago.

Chicago’s 175th Birthday
Celebrate Chicago’s 175th Birthday in 2012! Kick-off a year of festivities beginning Sunday, March 4, with the City’s official birthday party at the Chicago History Museum. Then enjoy 175 Days to Love Chicago through August 26; visit www.ExploreChicago.org/175days (launching March 2) to find events, festivals, promotions and fun facts to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. In the meantime, discover 175 Ways to Love Chicago from the perspective of 35 notable Chicagoans, including new ways to celebrate and explore Chicago every day, online at www.ExploreChicago.org.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to promoting and supporting Chicago’s arts and culture sector. This includes, but is not limited to: fostering the development of Chicago’s nonprofit arts sector, independent working artists, and for-profit arts businesses; presenting high-quality, free or low-fee cultural programs accessible to residents and visitors; and marketing the City’s cultural assets to local, regional, and global audiences. DCASE produces nearly 2,000 public programs, events and support services annually, generating millions in economic benefits for the City of Chicago.