Breaking the Grid Archives

Rethinking Order, Beauty, and Meaning Through Asymmetry

For centuries, symmetry functioned as both aesthetic preference and worldview. From the balanced forms of Greek temples to the mirrored ideal of the Vitruvian Man, symmetry stood as a proxy for truth, order, and divine proportion. The ancients called it symmetria — a mathematical harmony that reflected the cosmos itself. By the time of the […]

Sep 28 2025 by Nancy Lerner in Brandshrink

Breaking the Grid: Why “The Hat” makes us happy

For those of you who don’t routinely follow breaking news in the world of geometry, we’re all worked up (in a good way) about “The Hat.” It was discovered in late 2022 by David Smith, a retired printing technician from northern England, whose hobby was hunting for interesting geometric shapes. When he realized he was […]

Apr 25 2023 by Nancy Lerner in Breaking the Grid

Let’s Get Meta: An Interview with Chicago’s First NFT Gallery

“imnotArt” is the tongue-in-cheek name for Chicago’s first (and only) physical NFT gallery. What started as a passion project between a group of late-night video gamers quickly transformed into a hub for all-things-NFT in Chicago. We sat down with co-founders Matt Schapiro and Theresa Hojnacki to learn more about the past, present and future of […]

Mar 10 2022 by Madeline Rosemurgy in Breaking the Grid

Learning from a Secret Street Photographer

“Well, I suppose nothing is meant to last forever. We have to make room for other people. It’s a wheel.” — Vivian Maier Decades before Humans of New York became a worldwide storytelling sensation, a young woman by the name of Vivian Maier was quietly and meticulously documenting American life on the streets of New […]

Oct 20 2021 by Madeline Rosemurgy in Breaking the Grid

Sounding Boards: Eastlake Studio’s Mural Initiative Amplifies Chicago Voices

At Otherwise, we believe in the power of art to bring communities together, ignite important conversations and explore the world around us through a critical lens. We recently found inspiration in Sounding Boards, an initiative that uses public art as a vehicle to amplify diverse voices throughout Chicago. Technically speaking, a sounding board is placed […]

Sep 15 2021 by Madeline Rosemurgy in Breaking the Grid