 |
| JWB Photo, 2008 |
 |
| Just before the unveiling, August 15, 1967 |
Two men spoke, the first being William Hartmann, senior
partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the man most responsible for bringing
the Picasso to Chicago as a gift of the great artist to a city which he had
never visited. Hartmann observed that
the unveiling of the statue “may prove to be a singular event in the cultural
history of the world.”
Mayor Richard J. Daley followed Mr. Hartmann, proclaiming,
“We dedicate this celebrated work this morning with the belief that what is strange
to us today will be familiar tomorrow.”
His remarks were certainly optimistic, but I’m not sure he realized how
prescient they were.
 |
| A star is born as Mayor Richard J. Daley unveils the new Picasso |
It took $300,000 to assemble the sculpture with the cost
underwritten by the Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Fund, the Field
Foundation, and the Woods Charitable Trust.
Reaction to the great work was predictably strong, and
letters to the editors of The Chicago Tribune prior to the dedication
underscore that fact. Here are a few of
those . . .
It is said that Picasso made the design for
the large monument in the Civic center plaza to show his commie friends how
decadent and gullible Americans are or can be in matters of art. This monstrosity should never be permitted to
afflict the eyes of the good people of Chicago in our most public place . . .
Tho Republican by nature, I would rather look daily at a statue of his honor,
the mayor, then at this jeering Communist jest.
Frederick
J. Bertram, Chicago
I can’t for the life of me understand how the
people of Chicago can sit idle while this so-called statue donated by the
card-carrying Communist, Picasso, is unveiled right in our heartland. To think that our children and grandchildren
will have to look at this monstrosity for years to come!
M. A.
Troiona, Altoona, Pa.
The Picasso piece depicts a baboon, without a
doubt . . . Picasso has perpetrated a hoax, over which he and the world would
have a great laugh at our being taken in on such a joke . . . And not just a little joke, but a big
one, five stories high.
Helen
McKee, La Grange Park
Is Chicago blind! . . . Picasso is looked on
as one of the greatest artists to live.
Yet, because his work is modern, the people of Chicago refuse to accept
it. I do not especially like all of
Picasso’s works, but just the thought of his giving a work, one no other city has
the likeness of, makes me swell with pride.
O. J.
Stacey, Chicago
When it comes to raising a memorial on the
plaza of our new Civic center for all the world to see what is of most
importance to the “hog butcher of the world,” what is selected? Picasso’s dog . . . The most shocking aspect
of the whole thing is that, with all the really fine and nationally known art
talent native to and resident in Chicago, it was found necessary to go to an
artist halfway around the world, who has never seen Chicago—and is a notorious
Communist to boot.
Frank H.
Marks, Chicago
 |
| Google Image |
Pablo Picasso once said that art washes away from the
soul the dust of everyday life. I don’t
know for sure whether the 50-foot sculpture at the corner of Dearborn and
Washington is a soul-washer, but it has, I think, been a good thing for this
great city’s soul.
For more information on the process that led to Pablo Picasso’s
gift to Chicago, you may go to http://www.connectingthewindycity.com/2011/07/richard-j-daley-center-part-three.html
Posts
4 comments:
The only comment I liked was one from some undying Cubs fan. Who wanted the Picasso replaced with a giant statue of Ernie Banks.....I liked that but not for the same reasons the Cubs fan did. I also thought replacing Buckingham Fountain with a giant windshield wiper that would make rainbows was a great idea.....oh well..
Today we have a Beautiful Miro, Chagal, Henry Moore, but in homage to Baseball, we have Claes Oldenberg's "Bat Column.
Chicago is a world class city......All the Communists Aside.
HELLO MR. JIM
I´M JORGE FROM BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
I COLLECT CIVIC SCULPTURES AS AN ACADEMIC PROJECT.
I SAW YOUR IMAGES OF PICASSO AT CHICAGO AND I WONDER IF I CAN SHOW THEM AT MY BLOG WITH YOUR CREDITS. IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT GROWING UP artevaliosometal.blogspot.com
Waiting for a positive answer
Hopefully I´ll get a mecenas to build and install my own metal sculptures
worldwide...Then you´ll have a very rich friend:me
Learning to be a blogger is much more difficult than I ever expect it to be.
One of the better material items you can give to one is often a wrist watch. As as being a enjoy fanatic personally, I am able to assure this specific: cheap replica Fendi handbags shoes are to be able to ladies since timepieces are likely to guys. Just let him or her express. She or he become the man you're dating replica Bell & amp Ross Watches UK or spouse or child or pal, high quality Replica Breitling Watches to make certain precisely exactly the same: men really like timepieces. Choosing the right look for her or him requires thinking about numerous components. They may contain their life-style, your allowance as nicely as "other purpose". Nearly just about all timepieces might be elegant in addition to sporty. If he's in fake Breitling watches lots of athletics, or replica Bell Ross Collection Instrument watches even a specialist sportsman, next, purchase him a brand new athletics notice. Really will they attend lots of formal conference? Then opt for a costume search for your former mate.
Post a Comment