Y-symbol at the Grant Park

Y-symbol seen on the monuments at Congress Plaza ..







For more on..
# Y-symbol.. click here..

Y-symbol at the Harold Washington Library Center

Y-symbol at the Harold Washington Library Center..
Goes without saying, but still would mention it.. CPL stands for Chicago Public Library..
There are more sculptural symbols on the building facade, like..




- The Windy City Man..
- Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain..
# For more on the sculptural ornamentation at the Harold Washington Library.. click here..


For more on..
# Y-symbol.. click here..

Leonard Crunelle

One of my favourite sculptures in Chicago, is in fact a set of four figure fountains in the Grant Park, "Dove Girl, Turtle Boy, Crane Girl, Fisher Boy" .. by Leonard Crunelle ..

Fascinating art and an inspiring life-story ..
Analogous to the rags-to-riches story is the coal-mines to art-circles story .. The story of Leonard Crunelle who was born in a coal miner family in Northern France and grew up to become a reputed sculpture, with works displayed in many art exhibitions around the world .. His family emigrated to Brazil, Indiana in 1882, when he was ten yeard old .. Soon they moved to Decatur, Illinois. Leonard helped his father in coal mining since the age of ten.. He went school in Decature, where his teachers noticed his drawing skills, and that was his opening to the world of art..

Shortly before the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Lorado Taft delivered a lecture in Decature. After his address, some teaches of the town showed him the drawings made by Leonard ... Lorado Taft was impressed and took him under his tutelage. Soon Leonard started helping Lorado in the preparation of Columbian Exposition/World's Fair at Jackson Park .. After the Fair, Leonard took whatever daytime jobs he could get and attended the Art Institute night classes.

Soon he flourished as a artist. His speciality was making children's sculptures .. many times he used his own four children as models. His children helped him in making statues, the same way he helped his father in coal mines ..

Some of Leonardo Crunelle's works in Chicago are:
- Dove Girl, Turtle Boy, Crane Girl, Fisher Boy..click here..
- Heald Square Monument..click here..
- Victory Monument..click here..
- ..



Heald Square Monument, designated a Chicago Landmark .. was started by Crunelle's mentor, Lorado Taft and become Taft's last work. It was completed by Leonard Crunelle..
For more on Heald Square Monument..click here..







Victory Monument, also designated a Chicago Landmark...
This monument was erected to honor the achievements of the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, an African-American unit that served in France during World War I ... Crunelle's birth town was destroyed in World War-I.
For more on Victory Monument.. click here..

REF: The Miner Sculptor.. by Isabell MacDougall..

Pioneer Court [Bust of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable - by Erik Blome]

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable...
Sculptor: Erik Blome
Installed: 2009
Location: Pioneer Court..







The plaque reads ...
Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable...
1745-1818
Founder of Chicago..
African-Caribbean, born in St.Mare, Haiti
In the 1770's he opened the first trading post, beside the Chicago River, establishing the settlement that became Chicago.
The DuSable homestead was located near this site.
This monument was given to the City of Chicago by Haitian-born Mr. Lesley Benodin, to honor the legacy of it's founder.
Bust of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable..
Erik Blome
2009
City of Chicago
Richard M Daley, Mayor
Public Art Collection


The bust is close to the Site of Pointe DuSable House .. which has been designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977 ..




The bronze plaque reads ... Point DuSable House ...
"Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable Homesite has been dedicated a National Historic Landmark. This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America ... - 1977, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior" ...

Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable [1745 -1818] ... popularly known as "The Father of Chicago", was the first known settler in the area which is now Chicago, Illinois. Du Sable was recognized by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago as the Founder of Chicago on October 26, 1968..




DuSable Founders Way..
The river walk connecting the Pioneer Court, with the DuSable Park [where Chicago River meets the Lake Michigan] is named as DuSable Founder's Way .. as seen below..

RELATED LINKS..
# Chicago Riverwalk & Chicago River Esplanade..click here..
# For more on Chicago Riverwalk ... click here ...
# For Public Art along the Chicago Riverwalk.. click here..
# For more on Chicago River Esplanade ... click here ...
# For Public Art along the Chicago River Esplanade.. click here..
# For more on the site of DuSable House ..click here..
# For more on the Pioneer Court.. click here..
# For more on Chicago River Esplanade/"DuSable Founder's Way".. click here..

The Great Teacher

The Great Teacher
Sculptor: Abbottt Pattison
Presented to Fourth Presbyterian Church
by The Center For Older Adults..
October 14, 1990..
Location: The sculpture is displayed at the Fourth Presbyterian Church’s Westminster House entrance on Delaware Place ..



The Fourth Presbyterian Church..