Chicago’s hometown artists usually find themselves the proverbial beggars at the feast when it comes to local government funding or support. This tradition was upheld last month when 12 painters from all over the world–but none from Chicago–received the city’s red carpet treatment and a nice pot of cash as well. The dozen artists are involved in an elaborate program sponsored by the local branch of Sister Cities International to create 12 works of art, each measuring four by nine feet, that will eventually hang in the arrival halls of the new $618 million international terminal at O’Hare, which formally opened last week. The idea for the project came from cultural commissioner Lois Weisberg, who with this scheme has proven that when she really wants to organize something–no matter how little it helps Chicago’s own artists–she sure knows how to get the job done. Notes Weisberg: “The coordination involved in this project was unbelievable.”
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It all began with a request to each of Chicago’s 12 sister cities to nominate three candidates to a standing committee of the Public Art Program of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs. The committee then reviewed slides and resumes from each artist before selecting one to represent each city. The first group, of seven artists, was flown here in mid-May (courtesy of the international carriers that will use the new terminal) to begin their two-week painting adventure. For the first week the artists stayed in the homes of local families; for the second week they moved to the ritzy confines of the Union League Club to be closer to their appointed studio away from home–the famed Rookery, at 209 S. LaSalle. Use of the space was arranged by the Baldwin Development Company, which made it available to the artists 24 hours a day.
Weisberg and the artists unveiled the first 7 of the 12 canvases (the other 5 will be completed this week) at a gala $250-a-plate black-tie dinner at the new terminal last week. The glitzy affair was thrown to show off the terminal and to raise more than $300,000 for various other Sister Cities projects. Last week Weisberg could not say exactly how much had been spent on the current project. Much was donated, she claims, but each artist was given a $1,500 commission as well as $500 for expenses. The cost of the project, says Weisberg, would be covered by funds raised at the gala.
