Catch Center Of The World, Chicago Before It Closes

By Julia Weeman in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 30, 2013 8:00PM

The heart of legendary architect Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago was the Civic Center, located on the city's cardinal axis, Congress Parkway. However, it was never built. In its place is the Circle Interchange, which was rated the third worst traffic interchange in the U.S. and robs Chicagoans of 25 million driving hours every year. Urban designer and architect Marshall Brown has constructed three scenarios—one political, one economic, one cultural—for the future of the Chicago Circle. In his first show at Western Exhibitions, see models, a photo montage, and a trio of videograms that project histories of Chicago's future as the center of the world.

The cornerstone of the Center of the World, Chicago is a 15-minute digital animation titled "The Center of the World: Histories of Chicago's Future." It not only presents three scenarios for the future of Chicago, but also for the United States and beyond. The alternative political, economic, and socio/spiritual possibilities for the Circle Interchange that Brown outlines in his projections in the video are thought-provoking, plausible, and utopian.

Marshall Brown Projects is a Chicago-based urban design and architecture studio where Brown constructs visions for large-scale urban environments and solutions for the creative integration of architecture, infrastructure, and landscape. Brown has worked on the Navy Pier Development, a master plan for the neighborhood of Washington Park, and founded the Yards Development Workshop. He also founded New Projects, an urbanism, art, and culture think take in collaboration with curator Stephanie Smith.

Center of the World, Chicago runs through July 20. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. Western Exhibitions is located at 845 W Washington Blvd. on the 2nd Floor.