UPTOWN — This week is off to a great start: The sun is out, birds are chirping and a familiar statue by the late sculptor John Kearney made its triumphant return to Uptown.
The beloved Hull House Gorilla statue returned to its rightful spot in front of 4520 N. Beacon St., Tuesday. It now sits on a concrete platform inset from the sidewalk.
The Hull House Gorilla statue at 4520 N. Beacon St., taken Tuesday afternoon. [DNAinfo/Mina Bloom]
A few passersby stopped to take pictures and admire the statue, which is in better shape these days. Developer and building owner Dave Gassman hired John Keith, Kearney's longtime welding assistant and friend, to restore the statue, according to Ald. James Cappleman's (46th) office.
Passersby taking pictures with the statue Tuesday afternoon. [DNAinfo/Mina Bloom]
The process involved cutting off and replacing bad pieces, rust-proofing and cleaning the sculpture on and off for a few months, according to Keith.
"Whenever a building gets sold, one always fears the worst, that the person is going to throw it away or take no interest in [the sculpture]," he said.
Needless to say, Keith was pleased that Gassman stuck to his word and hired him to bring the sculpture back to life.
Gassman is hosting a public ceremony for the gorilla at 4 p.m. Friday for any fans of the sculpture to celebrate its return.
Kearney originally built the gorilla in 1977, and it was removed in 2013, when the former Hull House Association building, which housed theater companies like Pegasus Players, was razed.
Gassman bought the building out of foreclosure and ended up converting the once-vibrant theater center into an apartment building despite opposition from the community.
Kearney's granddaughter, Samantha, said seeing the statue restored and back in its rightful spot means a lot to her personally. She also pointed to the broader meaning behind the statue.
"It's a really noteworthy piece. Not only because it's a gorilla and gorillas are things humans are attracted to because we're all apes, but also because it had this connection to the Hull House," she said.
Hull House is regarded as an integral force in Chicago theater history, from the "Little Theater Movement," in the early 20th century that nurtured small experimental theaters in the city to the "Off-Loop" movement in the 1960s spurred by former Hull House theater director Bob Sickinger.
"I think that is a tremendous legacy I'm happy my grandfather's work can be associated with," Samantha said.
Kearney passed away in August of last year. He's known for using chrome car parts to create sculptures of animals. Some of his best-known sculptures include the collection of Wizard of Oz characters in Oz Park and three deer in front of the Aon Center.
In April, a $9.25 million Lincoln Park home went on the market that included one of Kearney's giraffe statues.
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