Most fun for the adults: Admiring the creativity of the artists to turn an everyday teapot into a work of art.

Most fun for the kids: Seeing the wide variety of colorful teapots.

Best ages for this attraction: 5+

Price per tickets: Free

The Artful Teapot: 20th - Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection is on display at the Chicago Cultural Center from October 18, 2003 through January 4, 2004. This exhibition explores the teapot as an inventive vehicle for artistic expression in the twentieth century.

The Artful Teapot is split into four sections demonstrating how the everyday teapot can be transformed into a work of art. The teapot's basic components, the body, handle, lid and spout, are interpreted in wildly imaginative variations. Expect to see teapots of animals, houses, scenes, dragons, and even Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

In the "Aesthetic Variables" section which you enter as the first part of the exhibit, the 20th century's most important artists, designers, and architects have been beguiled by the teapot. While some have focused on its shape and design, others have sought to increase its efficiency. Many teapots and tea sets are lavishly decorated with colorful glazes or constructed using novel and eccentric materials.

The teapot is artfully disguised in the "Illusion and Allusion" section. Teapots and tea services are fashioned to resemble famous people, imaginary characters and a menagerie of creatures. One of my favorites is called Invisible Support by Sergei Isupov which features a mans face with several other faces painted all over it, and the head is being supported by for feet from underneath.

The "Rendezvous with Ritural" section touches on the sociable ceremonies of tea-drinking. Once people started traveling, they began taking their teapots with them. This led to teapots in the shape of trains, planes and automobiles, as well as practically designed teapots such as the "cube".

"Tea for Art's Sake" examines the artistic license of pieces where the teapot form is employed strictly for aesthetic potential. These teapots are not functional in any way. There is even one made entirely from rock salt.

With such a wide variety of unique and creative teapots, it is hard to pick out favorites! As we walked through the exhibit, each teapot invoked various emotions. Some were cute, some made me chuckle, while other's left me scratching my head wondering what the artist is trying to convey. On I really liked is called I'm a Little Teapot and was created by Cheryl Frances. Picture a traditional sterling silver teapot with a silver baby doll on the inside. Her arms and legs protrude out the front of the teapot while her head pops out the top and the lid is her hat.

I laughed at the Oreo and Frog Teapot by David Gilhooly simply because the combination of Oreo cookies and frogs is a weird one.

Most of the teapots are wide open and not in display cases. This allows visitors to get a good look at the teapot and materials used by the artist. There are "DO NOT TOUCH" signs posted everywhere. Also, photos are not allowed. If children are with you , pick up a family guide outside the door. There are activities for them like finding which teapot matches teapot parts printed and other games.