Chicago Gateway Green: International Sculpture Program

 

Chicago Gateway Green is a non-profit organization dedicated to greening and beautifying Chicago’s expressway, gateways, and neighborhood. It was founded in 1986 by Donald J. Deporter, former CEO of Hyatt Hotels, on the belief that beauty and sustainability go hand-in-hand. They work for urban beautification and greening projects through sustainable landscaping, litter removal and planting native species on hundreds of acres along transportation corridors. These help improve air quality, protect our water, and restore the beauty of Chicago.

For more about Chicago Gateway Green.. click here..

Of particular interest to me is  the Chicago Gateway Green’s International Sculpture Program. Its objective to showcases artists’ work from 25 Sister Cities along Chicago’s gateways and expressways. These are permanent, large-scale public artworks. There are four such large scale public artworks installed..

 Flame of The Millennium – by Leonardo Nierman
Being Born – by Virginio Ferrari
Arris – John Henry
The Runners – by Theodoros Papagiannis

 

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Chicago Gateway Green – International Sculpture Program

 

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Flame of The Millennium – by Leonardo Nierman
Dedicated: 2002
Location: southbound interior of the Ohio Interchange of the Kennedy Expressway
Stainless Steel / twenty-five feet tall and weighs over seven tons.

 This is Gateway Green’s flagship installation. Installation and production costs for “Flame of the Millennium” were generously underwritten by Alper Services. The piece represents a flame in the wind, as the source of light bringing wisdom and clarity in the new millennium.

 

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Being Born – by Virginio Ferrari
Dedicated: 1983 / Relocated: 1996
Description: Stainless steel, granite, and water / 624.9 x 701 x 548.6 cm
Location: Donald J. DePorter Gateway, Kennedy Expressway at the Ohio St., Ontario St., & Orleans St. Interchange.

Dedicated in 1983 at the corner of State and Washington streets, Chicago, Illinois, 1983. It was donated to the people of Chicago by the Tooling and Manufacturing Association (previously known as the Tool and Die Institute).  It was relocated in 1996, with the collaboration of Chicago Gateway Green, to the Donald J. DePorter Gateway, intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans streets, Chicago, Illinois.

 

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Arris – John Henry
Installed: 1975
Location: Cermak Rd. and Indiana Ave. Located adjacent to McCormick Place
Aluminum / H 42 ft. x W 15 ft. x D 15 ft.
Commissioned by Amalgamated Trust and Savings Bank.

Arris serves as a gateway into Chicago’s downtownn from the south.  It is constructed of high strength aluminum beams, assembeled at geometric angles to one another. This gateway location is landscaped and maintained through a unique partnership between the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Gateway Green.

 

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The Runners – by Theodoros Papagiannis
Dedicated: 2011
Location: O’Hare International Airport, along the I-190 south side embankment.
Stainless Steel /18-foot x 40-foot sculpture, with 10 individual runner statues. Each of the first five runners, is about 6,000 pounds [3 tons] and each of the later empty runners, is about 12,000 pounds [5-6 tons].

“The Runners” Public Art Project is a partnership of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Department of Aviation, Chicago Gateway Green, and the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.

 

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RELATED LINKS:
Flame of the Millennium – by Leonardo Nierman..click here..
Being Born – by Virginio Ferrari.. click here..
Arris – by John Henry.. click here..
The Runners – by Theodoros Papagiannis.. click here..

 

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