Chicago is the first city in the U.S. to bring Statue Stories to the outdoor sculpture: Chicago’s best actors, writers and theaters have come together to celebrate the outdoor art by telling stories in the voice of the piece. There are QR codes on 30 statues throughout Chicago that come to life when your cellphone is called back with a story. The Richard Driehaus Foundation sponsored the project that will be live until August 2016, so don’t miss your favorite works. Here are a few of the pieces we are looking forward to seeing.
Stephan Balkenhol (German, b. 1957), Man With Fish, 2001, installed at the Shedd Aquarium. Story told by Steve Carell (written by Chris Redd, produced with The Second City).
Anish Kapoor (b. 1954), Cloud Gate, 2006 in Millennium Park. Story told by David Schwimmer, written by David Catlin and produced with the Lookingglass Theatre.
Jean Kearney, The Tin Man, in Oz Park. Story told by David Kersnar, written by Raymond Fox, and produced with the Lookingglass Theatre.
L Frank Baum (1856-1919), author of 14 Oz books, once lived a few miles away from what is now Oz Park. Today, Oz Park includes areas such as Dorothy’s Playground, the Emerald Garden, and 4 Oz statues by Chicago artist John Kearney (1924-2014). The Tin Man is made from chrome auto bumpers, the preferred media of the artist.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens (Irish, 1848-1907), Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Park, story told by John C. Reilly, written by Scott Turow.
All images courtesy of Statue Stories.
This statue was created 19 years after Lincoln’s death. Saint-Gaudens used a 6′-4″ farmer as a model, however, the face and hands were taken from the president’s actual life casts.
Said John C. Reilly of his role in the project: As a native Chicagoan I was really honored to give voice to the statue of Lincoln, a statue I’ve spent many hours staring up at, imagining what he had to say.”