Check Out A Short But Sweet Survey Of Chicago's Public Art

By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 24, 2016 3:52PM

From dozens of neighborhood murals to downtown’s many sculptures, it would seem something of a fool’s errand to attempt to encapsulate Chicago’s overflowing public-art bounty in just over seven minutes. But PBS’ excellent weekly digital series The Art Assignment did an admirable job with their latest episode, a short survey of Chicago’s outdoor, public pieces.

Art-scene regulars will likely be familiar with most of the stops; but early on, the clip features some cool selections that might be lesser known to the general public. The episode stops at backyard East Garfield Park backyard gallery The Franklin, then moves on to the dazzling Luftwerk light-based display at the neighborhood’s conservatory. There’s also a quick cameo from Trunk Show, Jesse Malmed and Raven Munsell's long-running “mobile exhibition space”/Ford Taurus, and his catalog of stickers.

The second half definitely covers familiar territory, as it turns focus toward the Loop. (Hello again, “Bean.”) But there’s plenty of engaging context for, say, Jean Dubuffet’s Monument With Standing Beast at the Thompson Center and Picasso’s game-changing Untitled at Daley Plaza. Of the latter, Mayor Richard J. Daley apparently said at the time of its debut, “We dedicate this celebrated work this morning with the belief that what is strange to us today will be familiar tomorrow.” Very prescient, Mr. Mayor.