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Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Park District Announce New Public Art Installations


Eight new sculptures to be installed by end of week in locations across Chicago, including Kenwood, Palmisano Park, Museum Park Campus

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–August 20, 2014.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Park District, in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), today announced that three new pieces of art have been installed last week and five more pieces of art will be installed this week in public areas. The temporary art installations will be on display for one year (view the album).

“Public art installations allow Chicagoans to be active participants in arts and culture, and as part of the Chicago Cultural Plan, we’ve made progress on a number of fronts to bring the arts directly to Chicago neighborhoods,” said Mayor Emanuel. “From Sculpture on the Boulevards to art installations on the lake front to more than 1,000 events through Night out in the Parks, we’re embracing the City’s thriving arts community and making it more accessible to all residents in neighborhoods throughout the City.”

These public art installations are part of Mayor Emanuel’s efforts to bring public art directly to Chicago neighborhoods and fits into his citywide vision for art and culture, as outlined under the Chicago Cultural Plan.

“We are excited to enhance Chicago’s cultural offerings and access to public art with these installations,” said Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent of the Chicago Park District. “Residents and tourists alike can enjoy these in free public areas.”

The sculpture Untitled, 2013 by Christopher Wool was installed last week at Buckingham Plaza North. The three-dimensional piece executed in bronze is based on wire he found in Texas. This sculpture was first exhibited as part of the artist’s retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in the fall of 2013, where it was displayed outside in front of the museum; the exhibition then traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago in February 2014 where it was displayed in the Rice Pavilion.

In addition, two pieces by Robert Lobe were installed last week. Nature’s Clock is located on the Museum Park Campus at the intersection of McFetridge and Museum Drive. This piece fits a set of boulder and tree forms snugly into the lawn like a forest in the garden. Trees in the piece cross as if hands on a clock suggest that time is ticking. Robert Lobe also installed Eastern Hophornbeam at Diversey Harbor Inlet North. The artist describes the sculpture’s embracing limbs as “lovers in the forest.”

This week, three sculptures are being installed by artist Alice Aycock. Painted aluminum sculptures Twin Vortexes and Spin the Spin was installed on Tuesday, August 19 on Lake Shore Drive bike path at 47th and 48th streets. A third reinforced fiberglass sculpture, Waltzing Matilda, will be installed on Lake Shore Drive bike path at 46th street on Thursday, August 21. The artist describes these sculptures as the movement of wind energy, and all three were previously displayed on Park Avenue in New York City.

Also next week, Indira Johnson will be setting up two installations from Ten Thousand Ripples, a collaborate public art project centered around fiberglass and cement Buddha sculptures that represent peace. One installation will be located in Palmisano Park and the other will be located in Lincoln Park at Diversey/Lakeshore Drive Greenway south of Diversey.

Each artist donated their artwork for display. The Chicago Park District has invested a total of $120,000 for installation and transportation costs.

Other public art installations have included Hot Rod, by Orly Genger, which is currently installed along the lakefront trail, northeast of Lake Shore Drive and Monroe Street, through November, and The Watch, by Hebru Brantley, which is currently installed on the Museum Campus just north of the Field Museum along Lake Shore Drive through May of 2015. In addition, the Chicago Tree Project commissions local artists to turn dead or dying trees that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other bugs and diseases into living public art in Chicago parks.

For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call 312.742.PLAY, 312.747.2001 (TTY).

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For more information about the Chicago Park District’s more than 8,100 acres of parkland, more than 580 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, nearly 50 nature areas, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312/742.PLAY or 312/747.2001 (TTY). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling, 312/742.PLAY.

Source: cityofchicago.org


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