Seventeenth Church

RedBall Finds the Seventeenth Church of Christ

It was a match made in heaven. The robust architectural curve of the church at the corner of Wacker and Wabash was the perfect accompaniment to the RedBall, like an inverted cement pedestal of sorts. The day was bright and clear, a striking contrast to the bleary-eyed Redball team who found themselves up at the crack of dawn for yet another bout of perky news coverage. Artist Kurt Perschke appeared to be the one exception to the rule as our bright-eyed and bushy-tailed hero prepared for yet another television interview. Another bushy-tailed friend was discovered during installation to rival Perschke and that just happened to be a little bunny minding its own sweet business in the sunken gardens of the church. A story for later, perhaps, but nice little sign for the crew.

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Grant Park

RedBall at Grant Park: A Day to Remember

Sometimes a day begins and ends on a consistent note, as if there existed an unspoken theme just waiting to be figured out and given a title. Sunday at Grant Park was one such day and to suit our purpose here, let

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Field Museum

It is very interesting how different locations change the behavior toward the Red Ball. I knew it in theory, but experimenting the interaction people has with the work base in the space is even better that in theory. Filed Museum is one of those spaces that brings more conservative action. Maybe the idea of the Museum makes people be more aware of how they need to treat a piece of art. Less jumping, more observing the work in a curious way, coming from inside where they cannot touch they work and interact with it or going to see art inside of a crystal case, they have a very specific agenda. Taking photos using the perspective that the front part of the museum has, as if they where holding it in their hands, or in their arms they have definitely a different physical experience than from other places is been shown. Having as frame the field museum, Perschke’s RedBall, one more time is successfully aware in the idea of how a public art is affected by the architecture surrounding the work.

-Monica (RedBall Assistant)

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Wishbone Restaurant

It all began on a freshly washed Friday morning… Mother Nature decided to work with the RedBall project by halting the torrential downpour of the previous day so that the ball could be inflated on the clean, cool sidewalk beneath the awning of the Wishbone restaurant, right on schedule. News crews abounded as the incredibly photogenic RedBall made its presence known. Morning shifted to afternoon as people gathered around the RedBall for lunch. Amidst southern style feasting were rumors that Oprah might arrive to get her picture with the RedBall. Business cards were passed and phone numbers promised just in case the two Greats should meet.

Also in the presence of the RedBall, artists, critics and gallery owners could be found to honor the various art openings of First Friday including that of Kurt Perschke’s drawings and photographs displayed just down the street at the Carrie Secrist gallery. Respecting the action-packed day, the RedBall stayed inflated for an extra hour only to release its air amidst sighs of disappointment from the Wishbone staff who were sorry to see the RedBall go. It really was a stellar day all around.

-Rebeccah (RedBall Assistant)

[Show picture list]
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Spertus Institute

[Show picture list]

Day 2 of the RedBall Project was a huge success. The stunning 10-story faceted window wall that forms the facade of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies (designed by award-winning Chicago firm of Krueck + Sexton) proved to be an amazing site and back-drop for the installation to work its magic. On bustling South Michigan Avenue with nearby art schools in session (Columbia College + the Art Institute of Chicago within blocks) the students were the bulk of the intrigued audience. That said, Chicago’s finest construction teams took in the RedBall on their lunch breaks as did the US OLYMPIC Team – medal-clad and all. (They were in town being hosted by Oprah at Millennium Park and whizzed by on double-decker buses with their best Olympian waves to the RedBall, lots of practice at this point).

NBC spent the better half of the day filming and WTTW/Channel 11(PBS) also appeared later in the day to capture footage and interview Kurt.

The biggest fan of the day had to be Dr. Howard A. Sulkin, President of the Spertus. So enthralled with the project and the public’s reaction he escorted Kurt and the RedBall team up to the balcony of the building for a breathtaking birds-eye view of the RedBall (and the City of Chicago). Slide show on the way, a few things to work out.

- Megan R.

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Millennium Park – Day One!


It was a great first day for RedBall in Chicago, and a long one. We had ABC and NBC out on site and thousands of people for the Labor Day weekend, and concert with Poi Dog Pondering sponsored by Target. Here are the images from the day.

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Chicago Schedule

September 1, 11 am – 6 pm Millennium Park (Michigan Ave. and Randolph St.)
September 3, 11 am – 6 pm Spertus Museum (610 S. Michigan Ave.)
September 5, 11 am – 6 pm Wishbone Restaurant (1001 W Washington Blvd.)
September 6, 11 am – 4 pm Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive)
September 7, 11 am – 6 pm Grant Park, Museum Campus pedestrian underpass (Lake Shore Drive at Roosevelt Rd.)
September 10, 11 am – 6 pm Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist (55 E. Wacker at Wabash Ave.)
September 12,11 am – 6 pmLaSalle St. Bridge (LaSalle at Wacker Ave.)
September 16, 11 am – 6 pm (13th Rescheduled due to storm) Damen Ave. & North Ave.
September 21, 11 am – 6 pm (14th Rescheduled due to storm) Chess Pavilion, North Ave at the Lakefront
September 17, 11 am – 6 pm Union Station & Jackson (444 W. Jackson Blvd)
September 19, 11 am – 6 pm Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell Ave.)
September 20, 10 am – 5 pm IIT

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Chicago Sponsors

About Target and the Arts

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 648 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of its income in the communities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than 3 million USD a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

“At Target, we are committed to making the arts affordable and accessible to youth and families across the country,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “Through our partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs, we hope that the Chicago community enjoys the experience of interacting with the one-of-a-kind RedBall Project installations.”

About the Chicago Public Art Program

For thirty years, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program has been actively commissioning art for the City of Chicago. Local, national and international artists have created unique works for the city’s libraries, police stations, senior centers and other municipal buildings. The collection has grown to over 700 pieces gracing the City’s public spaces. The Public Art Program also oversees special projects that further contribute to the cultural enrichment of Chicago by creating and placing artwork in very public and occasionally unexpected sites. The RedBall Project Chicago sponsored by Target is one of these projects. . For more information, visit http://www.CityofChicago.org/PublicArt

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