LINCOLN PARK — Have you ever stared up at the towering Standing Lincoln statue, and wished it would tell its stories?
Well, now it can.
Actor John C. Reilly has become the voice of the Standing Lincoln statue, located east of the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., in Old Town. He'll talk to you — heck, he'll even call you — as long as you have a smartphone.
Reilly is among many actors and writers who have lent their talents to "Statue Stories Chicago," a new year-long initiative that is giving voice to 30 statues across the city. Chicago is the first American city to host the project, which started in London last year.
The way it works is smartphone users scan a QR code on a nearby sign, and then get a "call back" from the actor who voices the statue. Their original stories range in tone from humorous and fun to historical and moving. Expect to hear the famous voices of Jack McBrayer, David Schwimmer, Bill Kurtis, Bob Newhart, Steve Carrell, among many others.
Of more than 300 pieces of public art across the city, many of the 30 chosen statues are located in heavy tourist areas, including Downtown, Museum Campus, The Loop and Grant Park.
In addition to the Standing Lincoln statue, there are six others in Lincoln Park, including the three "Wizard of Oz" sculptures in Oz Park, 2021 N. Burling St., John Peter Altgeld near 340 W. Diversey Parkway, Benjamin Franklin at LaSalle Drive and Cannon Drive and William Shakespeare, located west of the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Humboldt Park has four talking statues, including Alexander Von Humboldt's Sidekick at 1301 N. Sacramento Ave., Leif Ericson at 1440 N. Sacramento Ave. and World's Fair Bison at Formal Gardens near 1200 N. Sacramento Ave. Bronzeville has one: the roughly year-old Paul Laurence Dunbar statue in Dunbar Park, 300 E. 31st St.
"30 statues awoke and discovered they had the gift of speech," said Collette Hiller, the founder of nonprofit British arts organization Sing London who helped bring the project to Chicago.
Hiller was joined by Richard Driehaus of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation as well as Chicago Park District Supt. Michael Kelly, former Chicago news anchor Bill Kurtis and other supporters at a news conference Thursday morning held in front of the Standing Lincoln statue.
The project was funded by the Driehaus Foundation in collaboration with the city and the park district.
"It's exciting to provide a free, interactive and educational experience, and at the same time, engenders civic pride," Richard Driehaus told the crowd Thursday.
Actors and writers from some of the city most highly-regarded theater companies, including The Goodman Theater, LookingGlass Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and The Second City contributed to the project.
For a full list of talking statues, visit the project's website.
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