The Obamas have long said the Obama Presidential Center would be more than a presidential museum. Its art collection reflects that vision.

The big picture: The 28 commissioned works reflect the Obamas' goal of making the center a cultural hub — especially for locals — and the former president and first lady were integral in selecting the artists.

Flashback: The Obamas were hands-on in all aspects of the center's design, museum director Louise Bernard tells Axios, including the specific artists they wanted to feature, such as local luminaries Theaster Gates and the late Richard Hunt.

Between the lines: Bernard and curator Virginia Shore say it was important for the Obamas to display internationally known artists, including Julie Mehretu, Carrie Mae Weems and Mark Bradford, but also give space to emerging and local creators.

• The mural "Pass It Forward" by Chicagoans Dorian Sylvain and Sam Kirk, planned for the center's athletic facility, will celebrate the city's South Side and the neighborhoods that shaped the Obamas' Chicago story.

What they're saying: Bernard calls the center "a gift back to the South Side" that will add to the city's already rich landscape of cultural destinations.

• "We want people to come constantly. We want people to use the landscape, to enjoy evening, morning walks, jogs through the landscape," Bernard says.

What's next: The Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park opens to the public on June 19.

Go deeper

During our Midterm Madness show this week, we peppered the candidates with a battery of fun questions, but finished each interview by asking what one thing would most improve local elections.

• Here's what they said:

Senate Candidates:

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly: "Campaign finance reform. If good people don't run, good people don't win. … Just because you have the most money does not mean you are the best candidate."

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: "Let's get corporate PAC money out of politics, and let's keep people at the center of everything that we do."

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi: "There's so much voter suppression going on right now all throughout the South, especially because they've gutted the Voting Rights Act, so we have to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act."

Assessor Candidates:

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi: "I'd like to see that we have fewer signatures to get on the ballot. It's very hard to get on the ballot for people to run for office. You need more signatures to run for Cook County assessor (8,236) than you need to run for governor (5,000)."

Lyons Township Assessor Pat Hynes: "It would be nice if there was some fact-checking [of ads] by the media."

Cook County Board President Candidates:

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle: The problem "is not so much just in the state. It's the dark money, and it's everywhere — and that's what's really challenging. We should all be supporting our candidates."

Ald. Brendan Reilly: "I'd move the primary date to the middle of July so it's nice out, and I'd give everybody the day off."

More candidates and more fun questions

🏊 The Chicago River Swim will return for its second year in a row. The event is set for September. (Sun-Times)

✈️ The city is asking the FAA to reconsider plans to reduce flights at O'Hare, saying the plans are "regressive." (Tribune)

⚖️ The Feds are dropping charges against two of the "Broadview Six." Illinois 9th congressional district candidate Kat Abughazaleh and three others still faces charges. (WTTW)

🏀 Northwestern's men's basketball team lost to Purdue 81-68 last night in the Big Ten tournament, effectively ending their season and the collegiate career of senior Nick Martinelli. (Inside NU)

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of watching the 10 contenders vying for Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday.

Why it matters: Trying to see them all is hard! Americans still aren't turning out to movie theaters en masse, and even if they make the journey, their local cineplex might not be screening some of the more niche contenders.

So if you've got an Oscar party on your calendar, but not a lot of free time, these are the three movies to prioritize:

"One Battle After Another"

Nothing is guaranteed, but Paul Thomas Anderson's Pynchon-inspired magnum opus is almost surely this year's Best Picture. The tale of ersatz political revolutionaries fighting back against an authoritarian government force is the type of timely film that Hollywood loves to reward.

Now streaming on HBO Max.

"Sinners"

The most-nominated movie of all-time is bonkers in the best way: part-1930s period piece, part-vampire bloodbath. The Academy loves to overlook horror movies, but writer/director Ryan Coogler's parable about the systemic exploitation of Black culture in American history is undeniable.

Now streaming on HBO Max.

"Sentimental Value"

The best acting ensemble of the year shines in this more-fun-than-you'd-think Norwegian tale of generational trauma. Director Joachim Trier has long been a cinephile darling, but he snagged Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning for his biggest swing yet.

Available via VOD on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube.

Read full story

👋 Hey, it's Justin!

This week, Saks Fifth Avenue announced it was closing its Michigan Avenue store. The department store has been on the Mag Mile since 1929!

State of play: In honor of the news, let's do a quiz on the history of department stores.

• Last week, we had a few winners for the bus route quiz. Congrats to Megan P., Eulalia H., Andy M., Timothy A., Mary W. and Handel T's five-year-old grandson, who apparently aced it!
• As always, screenshot your perfect scores and send them my way and I'll shout you out next week.

Take the department store quiz here