Monday, August 17, 2009

2009: Temporary Exhibit - Magnificient Mile [City Beautiful Art Installation - Part II]

City Beautiful Art Installation - II
Continued from the post above .. Part I .. click here .. 

Continued from the above post ..






Fabric of City Life: A Reflection on The Emerald Necklace ..
By - OWP/P
Location: 730 N. Michigan Avenue ..
The marker reads ...
Daniel Burnham's transformation of swampland into beautiful Chicago parks and boulevards that encircle the city is known as the Emerald Necklace. This piece reflects the formation of the necklace ..







Kaleidoscope ..
By - VOA Associates .
Location: 750 N. Michigan Avenue ..

The marker reads ..
This piece is a representation of Daniel Burnham’s ideal – the City Beautiful Plan. It is a colorful interplay of the city: its people, built environment, landscape and the waterfront ..



The 1909 Plan of Chicago: Centennial Celebration ..
By - Clarence David & Company
landscape development and management ..

The marker reads ..
The Michigan Avenue Bridge ..
Designed by architect Edward Bennett, Daniel Burnham's dedicated partner, the Chicago Landmark officially opened on May 14, 1920, connecting north with south. Pine Street was renamed North Michigan Avenue and soon commercial developers created a prestigious community that attracted people from all over the world.

The Chicago Plan Commission reported that the new bridge carried more than seven times the traffic of the old Rush Street Bridge [which was removed].
" The triangle shaped truss links symbolize relationships between friends, co-workers, business partners, north and south, old and new, and more."
The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association 2008 Annual Report.

In the garden the bridge demostrates it's importance as a major connection piece for Michigan Avenue ...


On the other side the marker reads ...
The Magnificient Mile ..
The plan of Chicago was the first mention of what was to become The Magnificient Mile, Daniel Burnham felt the need for a world-class boulevard in which he envisioned a highly experiential tree lined street with the excitement of high quality retail and hospitality.

The avenue was constructed in the 1920's. It required the widening and straightning of former Pine Street north of the river, which were lined with warehouses and factory buildings near the river and large mansions and row houses as it passes through the neighborhoods of McCormickville and Streeterville. The widening required the city to purchase a total of fifty-one properties. However the Chicago Plan Commission boasted that the 16 million spent on Michigan Avenue had already paid for itself over in increased property value by 1925.
- Encyclopedia of Chicago

The garden design symbolizes The Magnificient Mile with it's prominent boulevard, tree-lined parkways and vibrantly active city blocks ..


# City Beautiful Art Installations - I ..click here .
# City Beautiful Art Installations - II .. click here.

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