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Odd Sculptures on Logan Boulevard a Mystery

By Victoria Johnson | October 22, 2013 9:17am
 A handful of strange sculptures have appeared in the grassy areas on Logan Boulevard, but no one's quite sure where they came from.
Logan Boulevard sculptures
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LOGAN SQUARE — Four strange looking sculptures have popped up on Logan Boulevard, puzzling neighbors and the two alderman who represent the area near that stretch of Logan Square.

The four sculptures were installed in the grassy areas of the boulevard between Richmond and Rockwell streets and vary in size, shape and color.

One resembles a misshapen light bulb while another is a tall, green metal structure with sort of leafy cutouts. The others are also metal, but incorporate stone and, in one sculpture, actual plants.

"I've got one in front of my house, but I don't happen to mind it," said Logan Square Preservation president Andrew Schneider. "I think what's frustrating for people is nobody knew they were going in."

Residents aren't the only ones flummoxed by the sculptures' appearance last Friday.

Staff members for two area aldermen who unofficially share that stretch of Logan Boulevard as the city transitions between new and old ward boundaries say they don't know anything about the artworks.

"We haven't heard anything yet," Ald. Scott Waguespack's (32nd) chief of staff Paul Sajovec said Monday afternoon. "We didn't get any prior notification or know what the thinking process was."

Sajovec was perplexed by rumors that the Chicago Park District had installed them when the boulevards were cared for by the Chicago Department of Transportation.

"I don't know why the park district would have anything to do with that," he said.

Ald. Rey Colon's (35th) chief of staff, Martha Ramos, was equally puzzled by the strange sculptures.

"We were wondering where on earth they came from," she said, adding no permits had been issued.

Ramos said she'd heard from someone in the city that they were props for a "Chicago Fire" TV shoot scheduled for the boulevard Tuesday. However, "Chicago Fire" assistant location manager Larry Vinocur said, "They're not mine."

A city employee not authorized to talk about the project said the sculptures were part of a Chicago Sculpture International and Chicago Park District joint exhibit that had previously been on display at the lakefront.

The source said more would be installed in the area and that they may be on display for up to a year.

A Park District spokeswoman could not confirm that but said more information would be released later this week.

No one at Chicago Sculpture International could immediately be reached for comment.

In the meantime, the mystery continues.

"I wish I had better information," said Ramos, adding with a laugh, "because I am just as curious."