May 5, 2011.. What a wonderful day!
I had a long informal chat with Prof. Theodoros Papagiannis today, ranging from his experiences as a Professor of Fine Arts in Athens, to his creation of this monumental sculptural piece, "The Runners" for Chicago. A very informal chat indeed! He talked about his sight-seeing in Chicago which included his visits to the Art Institute, Museum of Contemporary Art, and seeing other sculptural installations in Chicago. He loved Agora and the Bean! A few names he mentioned very prominently were of Alexander Calder, Anish Kapoor and Magdalena Abakanowicz. It was nice to know the views of a renowned sculptor, not from Chicago, and not even from the US. And when I said I love "public" sculptures because it is out in the open, braving the weather and available for everyone to enjoy, he clapped his hands! I heard him utter something in Greek, I guess it was YES!
He talked very fondly about his own Museum, The Theodoros Papagiannis Museum of Contemporary Art, click here.. at Elliniko, Ioannina, Greece.
After a long chat, it was time to see "The Runners". The beautiful and ever-gracious Mrs. Chrisoula Kozonis drove us to the O'Hare Airport, where the sculpture has now been installed. Prof. Papagiannis' wife Sini and son Nicholas joined us.
RELATED LINKS..
# The Runners: Fundraising at Rosewood Banquets..
# The Runners by Theodoros Papagiannis [Installation: A Pictorial Documentation]..
# The Runners - by Theodoros Papagiannis [Attention to details]..
# The Windy City will soon have a new symbol, "The Runners", by Theodoros Papagiannis..
# The Runners - by Theodoros Papagiannis [Finishing touches at Duroweld Co. Inc.]...
# International Sculpture Program of Chicago Gateway Green Project..
4 comments:
I just love the Runners. What are the dimensions?
I wish there were other view points so that I can really see it.
Jyoti does such facinating work documenting public sculpture.
Ruth Aizuss Migdal
Thanks Ruth!
The Runners is 18-foot tall and 40-foot long.. and each individual Runners is two-&-quarter inches thick.
It's been suuch a privilege to document it's installation.
Where is "The Runners" located at O'Hare. Is there somewhere to park and walk to it?
Anon [Why anonymous though?]
When you enter the city from O'Hare, right before I-190 merges with I-90, you can see The Runners.It's close to Welcome to Chicago sign.
I do not think it has been constructed with the idea that people stop by and look. The idea is as you are driving, you see it, smile and move on to your destination...
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