"12151791"

"12151791" - by Amy Larimer and Peter Bernheim ...
Location: McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum ...

The sculpture is named after the date the First Amendment was ratified. The two-story piece is made up of 800 cascading steel plates ... and each of these plates is inscribed with quotes of individuals who shaped the history of our freedom ... These hovering metal pieces are supported by a series of structural chords and each chord represents a segment of time. So the sculpture "12151791" is a suspended timeline, a chronicle of individuals' contribution to decades of democracy and freedom ...

This piece was selected from 700 entries made ... in an international juried art competetion held in the year 2005.




Click on the image for enlarged view ...

Nathan Hale

Nathan Hale ..
Sculptor: Bela Lyon Pratt [1935]
Location: Michigan Avenue Nathan Hale Court ....

His famous lines ..
" I only regret that I have but one life to give my country" ..

Nathan Hale [1755-1775] was a 21-year-old American Revolution era spy... he disguised as a Dutch schoolteacher, and attempted to infiltrate New York’s British ranks to gather intelligence on the enemy’s Long Island military installations. The young man was captured, however, on the night of September 21, 1776 and hanged for treason the next morning on a gallows ...

Click on any image for enlarged view ..

Festival Season is here ...

click on the image for enlarged view ...

It's nice to see festival decorations all around ...
I'm not too sure what this structure is called ... Its in the Equitable Plaza, south of Tribune Tower ...

Moose

Moose ..
Sculptor: John Kearney
Installed: 2003 ...
Description: Welded Steel Sculpture ... Chrome bumpers ...
8'9" X 4' X 9' ...
Location: Pioneer Court ... south of Chicago Tribune building ..
Changed Location: Although it's still in the Pioneer Court, it's original location has been taken over by another sculpture named "God Bless America" [by J. Steward Johnson]... click here ... and now it's more towards the north-east corner on the Pioneer Court.



It is a part of artwork from recycled automobile parts ...

Mr Kearney has been creating art from chrome bumpers since 1970's and has many works of arts on permanent display across Chicago. As a sailor in World War-II ... Mr Kearney learned welding to do underwater repairs of Naval vessels.

Another of John Kearney's creation with automobile parts is the "Tin Man" in the Oz Park, as shown below ...



Tin Man ..
Sculptor: John Kearney
Description: Automobile parts ...
Location: Oz Park ...

# For more on the Oz Park .. click here ...

Oz Park

Oz Park ...
Location: 2021 N. Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614 ...
Oz park is in the Lincoln Park area ... The idea being a place for children to enjoy the theme park with the "Wizard of Oz" theme ...



Dorothy and Toto ...



The Tin Man ..

The Tin Man is made of used automobile parts ...

# Another sculpture by the same artist John Kearney with automobile parts titled the Moose can be found in the Pioneer Court ... click here ...

# A few more sculptures with used automobile parts can be found in the Grant Park ... Like the "Lilies" by Dessa Kirk, "Glass Bench" by Ted Garner and "Hedgerow" by Lucy Slivinski ... click here ...



The Scarecrow ..



The Oz Park ... [Information from it's official website]
Although the area surrounding Oz Park is considered prime real estate today, in the late 1950s it was in sub-standard condition. In the 1960s, the Lincoln Park Conservation Association approached the City of Chicago in efforts to improve the community, and the neighborhood was soon designated as the Lincoln Park Urban Renewal Area. The urban renewal plan identified a 13 acre-site for a new park, and in 1974, the Chicago Park District acquired the land.

In 1976, the park was officially named Oz Park in honor of Lyman Frank Baum [1856-1919], the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum settled in Chicago in 1891 several miles west of what is now the park. Having begun writing children's books at age 41, Baum wrote more than 60 books, including 14 Oz books, by the end of his life. In 1939, the production of an MGM movie, The Wizard of Oz, immortalized Baum's classic work of fiction ...



In the early 1990s, the Oz Park Advisory Council and the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce commissioned artist John Kearney to create a sculpture "Tin Man" Later more additions were made...

# "Tin Man" installed in October 1995 ...
# The Cowardly Lion, installed in May 2001
# The Scarecrow, installed June 2005.
# Dorothy & Toto, installed in 2007 ...



Other elements which celebrate Oz Park's theme, includes:
# The Emerald Garden .. and ..
# Dorothy's Playlot.

Dorothy's Playlot gets the name from its donor, Dorothy Melamerson, a retired local school teacher whose savings have paid for a number of park improvements in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. It is filled with play equipment for the little ones to climb, swing, and run ..



.. whereas in the Emerald Garden, families can enjoy a leisurely afternoon among the beautiful flowers.

REF: Oz Park official website .. click here ...

Lions: Art Institute of Chicago

Click on the image for enlarged view ...

Sculptor Edward Kemeys famous lions, that guard the entrance of the Art institute since 1894 ... can be seen in festive decorations ...
Some information on these two Lions is in my earlier post ... Lions: Art Institute of Chicago .. click here ...

Over the years, these lions have become more than a symbol of the Art Institute of Chicago ... and become a symbol of Chicago itself! More than infusing fear, they inspire affection ... and is a favourite of photographers ...



Click on the image for enlarged view ...

These lions are prepped-up for different occasions ... like they wore the Bears helmet as a part of the celebrations when the Chicago football team "Bears" won the NFC Championship in 2006 ...





Click on the image for enlarged view ...

Some information on these two Lions is in my earlier post ... Lions: Art Institute of Chicago .. click here ...

Dawn Shadow ... Public Art???

click on the image for enlarged view ...

Dawn Shadow by Louise Nevelson
Location: 200 W. Madison Ave ..

Few days back I went to take photographs of this sculpture Dawn Shadow ... I approached the person on the reception desk to take permission to take it's photographs ... I was told that photography is not allowed!!!!

hmmm... I fail to understand why photography of a huge sculpture, which is said to be a part of Chicago "Public" Art collection is not allowed???? I think more and more people should be aware of these art pieces if they are part of public art collection of the city of Chicago.

Check out ... Louise Nevelson (Dawn Shadows) ...