GOOD LINKS

I will be on vacation through July 5.

Sculpture in Chicago is under-noticed and under appreciated.  I am always amazed at the lack of information available about even our most notable work.  So I am particularly glad to be able to recommend the blog PUBLIC ART IN CHICAGO.  Take the time to explore this continuously updated resource.  Link HERE.

Another favorite site is the Augustus Saint Gaudens site posted by the National Park Service.  Link HERE.  We're lucky enough to have both Standing and Seated Lincolns in Chicago.

A new local website is dedicated to Hermon Atkins MacNeil.  Link HERE.  PUBLIC ART IN CHICAGO also posts MacNeil.  Link HERE.  CHICAGO SCULPTURE in the Loop has also posted MacNeil with an emphasis on the Marquette Building. (What a great building!)  Link HERE.  The more the better..... and I look forward to more.

Enjoy.  I'll be anxious to be back, I'm sure, come the sixth of July. 

1823. BERTEL THORVALDSEN

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
Achsah Bond.   Near the Planetarium.
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1823 is a little early for Chicago Sculpture.  The original, cast in 1823, is located in Warsaw.  The Polish American Congress and the Copernicus Foundation purchased this casting for Chicago in 1973.

REPRINTED FROM THE BOOK
CHICAGO FIGURAL SCULPTURE

1788. JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON

GEORGE WASHINGTON.
ANOTHER LOOK.
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I've been to the Fifth Floor of City Hall several times trying to get George's portrait right.  And each time I'm there, I have been distracted by the HORRENDOUS fluorescent lighting, bad shadows and background noise.  Its also a little distracting to know that THE MAYOR is sitting just inside that opposite door.  (Right or wrong, btw, I'm a big fan.)   But this morning,  for whatever reason,  I actually saw Houdon's Washington.

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And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind why in 1912 the administrators of the Benjamin Franklin Ferguson Fund purchased this casting of the original.  It is remarkable.  Even under fluorescent tubes George's face is so plastic, so realistic, that it photographs like a living, breathing man. Details are accurate.  And in the blur of low light -- well, you get the picture.

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There are dozens, hundreds of little projects, all over the City  that deserve attention. But replacing the fluorescents above George with some well placed halogen spots is  readily  do-able (given that the stakeholders are the City of Chicago and B.F. Ferguson Fund administered by the Art Institute of Chicago).  And the result would be to better honor George, Ben, Antoine and Richard.  For more on the Ferguson Fund, link HERE.

FOR MORE ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit CHICAGO IMAGES IN THE LOOP

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1788 JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON

George Washington

CASTING PURCHASED BY THE B.F.FERGUSON FUND
Located at 121 North LaSalle Street. Fifth Floor
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George stands guard at Mayor Daley's fifth floor office in City Hall.  Where is is much loved. This casting was purchased by the B.F. Ferguson Fund in 1925.

From the Book  CHICAGO FIGURAL SCULPTURE.