LAKEVIEW — The sculptures scattered across Lakeview and Lincoln Park are intended to evoke everything from the evolutionary process to a passionate love affair that's coming to end — and this weekend, residents can hear straight from the artists about inspirations, meanings and process.
On Saturday, the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit will hold its annual Sculpture Day, with a reception afterward at Trader Todd's, 3216 N. Sheffield Ave.
Many artists behind the 24 sculptures spread across Lakeview and Lincoln Park will be by their works on Saturday to talk about them, director Barbara Guttmann said.
The event began 12 years ago as part of the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit's public art program in Lakeview and Lincoln Park to encourage people to examine public art. This year, organizers are asking residents to take "selfies" with the art and hashtag them "#sculptureday" on Facebook or Twitter, Guttmann said.
"It’s a chance for people to see sculptures and not go downtown or [to] Navy Pier," she said. "It becomes part of your awareness and just walking down the street."
At 758 W. Belden Ave., near Halsted, Dusty Folwarczny will be near her sculpture of salvaged steel, "Nudge." The structure is intended to evoke "the little signs, feelings or whispers you get from the universe to do something," according to the artist statement.
And at 3400 N. Elaine Place, where a beloved silver giraffe statue used to stand, Ron Gard will be on hand to talk about "Night in Tunisia," a turquoise stainless steel piece named after a jazz piece by Dizzy Gillespie.
It represents "a once passionate love — which may have only lasted for one song — that is now coming to an end," Gard told organizers.
“In this piece, one form is clinging to the other while the other strives to free itself," he said.
Maps of the pieces will be available at Trader Todd's from 2-4 p.m., or can be downloaded from the website. A full list of artists and descriptions of their sculptures can be seen here.
Organizers are also encouraging people to use Divvy bikes to ride around to various sculptures.
"The new thing is 'know your food, know your farmer,'" Guttmann said. "This is 'know your artists.'"
