Monday, March 16, 2009

River North [Being Born - by Virginio Ferrari]





Being Born - by Virginio Ferrari

Installed: 1983

Stainless steel, granite, and water / 624.9 x 701 x 548.6 cm..

Location: Intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans Sts .
Located at the Ohio Street exit of the Kennedy Expressway

Donated to the people of Chicago by the Tooling and Manufacturing Association 
(Previously known as the Tool and Die Institute).

Initially located at the corner of State and Washington streets, Chicago, Illinois, 1983. Relocated in 1996, with the collaboration of Chicago Gateway Green, to the Donald J. DePorter Gateway, intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans streets, Chicago, Illinois.











Being Born serves as a gateway into Chicago’s downtown ...You can see the Kennedy Expressway in the backdrop ...

From the City of Chicago Public Art website..
"Being Born celebrates both art and technology and pays tribute to the industry that commissioned and fabricated it. Sculptor Virginio Ferrari explains, “The circular element symbolizes the precision and skill of this industry. The two stainless steel elements fit exactly into each other, symbolizing the process of die making.” The openness of the outer circle suggests that the industry continues to grow. Supporting the steel sculpture is a round granite base concealing a water mechanism that releases a continuous flow of water over a central surface that acts as a reflecting pool."





This gateway location is landscaped and maintained through a unique partnership between the City of Chicago, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Gateway Green.

REF: Being Born - Virginio Ferrari ..

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jyoti,
I really thank you for the commendable job in highlighting the public art in Chicago. You photos are of very good quality and I appreciate the efforts you take in putting the postings together.

Jyoti said...

Thanks Anon!

Anonymous said...

there is a marker located on new orleans

Roberta Bussau said...

My father, Robert J Waiting - Atomic Welding, was commissioned to make this sculpture. I have pictures of it being installed originally on State Street with him assisting. I also have an original watercolor signed picture from Virginio Ferrari.