2013: 31st Street Harbor Project and Chicago Tree Art

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The year 2013 saw the completion of the 31st Street Harbor Project. It had an artistic spinoff. Four huge trees that were cut down to make way for the new 31st Street harbor, were then sculpted by local Chicago artists: Christine Perri, Michael Bihlmaier, Ben Schlitz and Milton Mizenburg. Some salvaged trees painted yellow, green, red and blue and installed at a new children’s park.

The Tree Art at 31st Street was the brain child of Adam Schwerner, who was then the Director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Chicago Park District. Currently he is Director of Horticulture and Resort Enhancement at Disneyland. This can be considered Phase I of Chicago Tree Project. Although, I have to clarify that the term “Chicago Tree Project” was officially coined in 2014, when Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Sculpture International announced the Chicago Tree Project, which will commission local artists to turn dead or dying trees that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other bugs and diseases into living public art. For press release, click here..

 

 


 

Picture Tree by Christine Perri at 31st Stree, with Chicago Cityscape in the backdrop.

“Picture Tree” [extreme left] by Christine Perri at 31st Street, with Chicago Cityscape in the backdrop.

Here are some images of Tree Art on 31st Street.
The art were completed in the year 2013.
However the images were taken on a beautiful autumn day in October 2014.

 

Picture Tree by Christine Perri

Picture Tree by Christine Perri

 

Tree with giant dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs by Michael Bihlmaier

Tree with giant dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs by Michael Bihlmaier

 

Carved tree by Ben Schlitz

Carved tree by Ben Schlitz

 

Painted trees: blue, red, green and yellow

Painted trees: blue, red, green and yellow

 

 

31st Street Harbor

31st Street Harbor

 

The Tree Art were offshoot of the 31st Street Harbor Project. The year 2013, saw a 103 million rehabilitation project of the 31st street harbor. It includes the construction of a 2,700 ft. long breakwater; approximately 1000 new boat slips, green roof parking garage and other parking improvements; the creation of approximately 4 acres of new park space including a playground, promenade, open lawn areas, terraced steps; a harbor facility including a restaurant and community space, underpass to separate vehicular traffic from cyclists and pedestrians on the Lakefront Trail; and a new public fishing pier and boat launch.

This makeover is part of the 2007 Chicago Lakefront Harbor Plan. The plan maps out improvements to facilities, revetment repairs and the addition of boat slips for nearly every harbor along the lake. The harbors are among the biggest revenue generators for the Chicago Park District.

 

31st Street Harbor

31st Street Harbor

 

Playground at 31st Street Harbor

Playground at 31st Street Harbor

 

Underpass at 31st Street

Underpass at 31st Street

 

Promenade - Lakefront Trail

Tree Art along the Lakefront Trail at 31st Street

 

Art looks best when it is well nested in its environment!

 

Tree Art along Lakefront Trail

Carved tree by Ben Schlitz

 

Tree with giant dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs by Michael Bihlmaier

Tree with giant dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs by Michael Bihlmaier

 

Picture Tree by Christine Perri

Picture Tree by Christine Perri

 

Year 2014 saw the Chicago Tree Project: to turn Dead and Dying Trees into Public Art.
On May 16, 2014, Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Park District [CPD] and Chicago Sculpture International [CSI] announced the Chicago Tree Project, which will commission local artists to turn dead or dying trees that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other bugs and diseases into living public art… For more, click here..

 


 
RELATED LINK:
Chicago Tree Project.. click here..
 


 

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