SR2036 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2036 LRB100 23392 ALS 42443 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Sabina Ott, who passed away on June 28, 2018 at the age of 62; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott was born to Jewish immigrants Aaron and Rita Ott, who landed in New York before settling in Los Angeles; she completed her BFA in painting at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1979 and earned her MFA in painting there in 1981; in the 1970s, when she was an art student at SFAI, she ran a space with her friends called Jetwave, a site for art, punk music, parties, and more; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott had her first solo show at the Institute of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles in 1983; she then went on to participate in more than 100 international solo and group shows; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott moved to Chicago in 2005 to lead the Art and Design Department at Columbia College, where she experienced a shift in her work and began to focus primarily on the public possibilities of her projects; she had the foresight and generosity to embark on projects that celebrated the here and now of Chicago's art world; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott was known as "Artist Mother of Chicago"; she knew how to bloom where she was planted, catalyzing and connecting the artists in her community; her approach to people was as vast and welcoming as her approach to media; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott was a feminist to the core; a friend and Columbia College colleague said, "She made feminism a lust for life and magic moment...committing to activism and knowledge through joy and a dream of a better view from a wild space"; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott gave so much to so many; her sense of community was remarkable, and she strove to make people feel connected; to her loved ones, she was nonstop, exuding inimitable energy and conviction; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott was preceded in death by her parents; and

WHEREAS, Sabina Ott is survived by her husband, John M. Paulett; her stepdaughter, Kelly (Craig) Mitchell; and her granddaughter, Hannah Mitchell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Sabina Ott and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Sabina Ott as an expression of our deepest sympathy.