Decayging

A Memento Mori Exhibit

Oct 11 – Nov 1, 2025

Funerary and death-marking have been a part of human cultural, civic and religious traditions throughout time. “Memento Mori” (remember you must die) has been a universally recurring concept in art making since before the Egyptian recordings in the Book of the Dead or the Flemish and Dutch painters codified a tradition of memorial reminders of human mortality in vanitas still-life paintings, because death is ever-present.

My curatorial purpose in developing Decayging was to invite creative artists, cultural commentators and death activists to examine mortality and share their thoughts on its power and impact in our contemporary moment—as well as propose or model new ways of engaging the premise and practice of our death from more sustainable and constructive perspectives.

These artists engage the power of death, poke at and ponder its significance and play with its implication in the modern human experiment. Looking at death conversely asks viewers to consider what is the meaning and value of (a) life. Please join me in facing “the end of all things,” and finding joy and a lifesblood of intention and connection spreading and seeping its way through the darkness of our inevitable demises.

With sunny curiosity in the face of entropy’s ashen fog,

– JASON GREENBERG, Executive Curator & Agitator Member

– Oct 11 OPENING RECEPTION :: Sat 7:00 – 10:00 pm

– Oct 15 DEADLY SERIOUS/ARTFUL MORTALITY, Wed 7:00-10:00 pm

– Oct 19 SKULLS, DEATH & DEVILS (DEATH MASQUES), Sun 2:00-5:00 pm

– Oct 22 ARTISTS EULOGIES / Exhibition Critique, Wed 6:30-9:00 pm

– Oct 25 SIREN SONGS (TO LURE YOU TO YOUR DEATH), Sat 7:00-10:00 pm

– Nov 1 TODAY, WE ALL DIE (DAY OF THE DEAD), Sat 6:30-9:00 pm

Exhibition photos by Jason Greenberg, Agitator member
Scroll through artwork documentation & installation views below.

Lines of Communication from the Braille Series
by Ange Altenhofen / 1999 — Lines of Communication from the Braille Series by Ange Altenhofen / 1999

Above: Gallery Installation Southern View / Pre-opening 10/11/2025

DECAYGING was curated by Jason Greenberg, [Agitator Member] w/ curatorial assistance by Gary Glazner, Alonso Galue & Wendy Madrigal for the masque workshop and closing night performances.

The exhibition also included these events:

– Oct 15 DEADLY SERIOUS/ARTFUL MORTALITY, 7:00-10:00pm
Death Activist Panel Presentations:
:: “Your Death Is Not Only Yours” / Death Options by Cianna Stewart,
Death Educator & Dying Kindness Founder
:: “Spirit Parks and Re-Imagining Cemetery” by Mark Miller,
Passive House Architect / Legacy Entrepreneur

– Oct 19 SKULLS, DEATH & DEVILS, 2:00-5:00pm
Mask/puppet fabrication workshop w/ Alonso Galue

– Oct 22 ARTISTS EULOGIES / Exhibition Critique, 6:30-9:00pm
The public is invited to hear the artists share details and background to their work.
A panel of guest critics discuss the impact of individual artworks in the exhibit.

– Oct 25 SIREN SONGS (TO LURE YOU TO YOUR DEATH), 7:00-10:00pm
Musical performances by Chicago artist bands: Eve’s Undoing & The Broom People

– Nov 1 TODAY, WE ALL DIE: DAY OF THE DEAD, 6:30-9:00pm
Exhibition Closing, Community Engagement Poetry/Spoken Word performances by:

:: Gary Glazner, Event curator, Founder of “Poetry for Life” and Author

:: cin salach, Poet & Author, Alzheimer’s Poetry Project (APP) Mentor

:: Luke Leisman, Astronomer, Fiddle Player

:: Grant Kuchan, Novelist, Guitar player, Jug Band Ensemble Member

:: Wendy Madrigal and Alonso Galue, Puppet Performance Artists

DEADLY SERIOUS / ARTFUL MORTALITY
Presentations by Death Activist/Educators: New examples of “family caretaking,” ritualized embalming, natural corpse composting and land conservation burials, engagement legacy park/memorials and other “green burials” focus on integrating sustainable practices and legacy-honoring between living human beings and the spirits and memories of the departed. See how the presenters grapple with the concept of our “decayging” and present new life—& DEATH!—affirming models of addressing, honoring, architecting our own mortality.

SIREN SONGS / A NIGHT OF MAGIK & MUSIKS
Songs Presented To Lure You To Your Death: What’s dark, magnetic and draws you in to an irresistible fate? Lend us your ears and your attention; from the first breach of stillness you’ll be captivated and ensnared. These bands use alchemical magics to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary:

EVE’s UNDOING - with a dark streak to cajole and bemuse your inner critic.
The BROOM PEOPLE - Chicago’s own magical Mountain Goats cover band.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS:

Ange Altenhofen • Chiaton, IA
Alonso Galue • Chicago, IL
Gretchen Hasse • London, UK
Clem Hahn • Rockland Co., NY
Charlie Kahn • Chicago, IL
Charlie Levin • Oakland, CA
Judi Strahota • Boulder, CO
Luna Rail • Chicago, IL
Ike Scott • Fremont, CO
David Sutton • Evanston, IL
Alex Wilson • Chicago, IL

DEATH ACTIVISTS/PRESENTERS:

Cianna Stewart • San Francisco, CA
Amy Montgomery • Chicago, IL
Mark Montgomery • Chicago, IL
Mark Miller • Evanston, IL

BANDS/MUSICIANS:

The BROOM PEOPLE:

Vicki Walden • vocals, bass
Scott Elmegreen • vocals, guitar

EVE’S UNDOING:

Eve Ludwig • flute, vocals, spoons

Piccolina Zoo • vocalist, tambourine

Jeff Weisfeld • vocals, ukulele

John Beard • percussion, guitar

Mark Miller • trombone, sousaphone

POETS/PERFORMERS:

Gary Glazner • event curator, poet

cin salach • poet & author

Luke Leisman • fiddle player

Grant Kuchan • guitar player