LINCOLN PARK — Just two years ago, Sharon Kilburg used to be able to see the towering, sky blue sculpture named "Chevron" from the front of her Lakeview home.
That's because the massive sculpture used to be on a Lincoln Park front lawn, much to the dismay of neighbors and even the city.
But now, Kilburg can appreciate the sculpture in a setting she said is much more befitting the impressive piece: along the lakefront and directly across from the Diversey harbor.
"I used to see if from my house and say, 'what is that?'" Kilburg said as she sat on the rock wall separating the sculpture from the bike path. "It's certainly in a better location now."
The sculpture was formally unveiled at its new public setting Wednesday at 100 E. Diversey Pkwy. It was installed on a patch of Lincoln Park near the lake as part of Chicago Sculpture Exhibit's 2015 project.
But its newest location is just a continuation of the sculpture's story.
The sculpture, by John Henry, previously resided behind a brick wall in a yard at the corner of Armitage and Burling Street in Lincoln Park.
The sculpture was owned by John Novak, owner of a local construction firm, and was installed on his property. It had garnered criticism from neighbors since 2011, partially because its spindly, steel limbs hung over the sidewalk.
But the sculpture came down after neighbors and the city sued, saying it was an eyesore and ruined the character of the neighborhood. It was taken down altogether in 2013.
Novak at some point ran into a person on Chicago Sculpture Exhibit's board, and became a donor and sponsor, said Barbara Guttman, executive director of the sculpture exhibit.
Talks then progressed to where Novak considered and ultimately loaned the giant piece to the group so it could be displayed publicly.
One problem, though: the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit usually focuses on putting art pieces in neighborhood settings.
"We want people going to the dry cleaners and seeing art," Guttman said.
Chevron had already been in a neighborhood setting and had caused some controversy. So, the group decided to ask if it could be installed on park property near the lake.
The location near Diversey was then chosen.
Chevron sits on an expanse of grass right where boats travel from the lake back into the Diversey harbor. The sculpture, which has two massive pillars holding up three crisscrossing beams, cast a huge shadow under the high, noon-hour sun.
Anna Chomiak said its location works perfectly because the open space allows it to be viewed from every angle.
Chomiak rides her bike down the lakefront path from her Edgewater home almost every day, she said. When riding southbound, she said the sculpture resembles a giant cross. When riding northbound, it looks more like a windmill, she said.
Another passerby described it as looking like a mast on a sailboat.
"Everyone can see something different in it," Chomiak said. "It's very interesting. When I saw them put it up I thought, 'What in the world?' It grew on me for sure."
Novak agreed to loan out the sculpture for one year, though the group hopes to keep it for a year or two longer because of its size and the scope of the project.
But regardless of what happens with Chevron, Guttman said that the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit will be able to install bigger pieces at the site because of the large concrete base the group poured to accommodate the sculpture.
"Maybe in the future we can have more grand scale art," she said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
