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Read the press release here.

The 606 Could Get LED Light Show — Just In Time For Holiday Season

By Mina Bloom | October 10, 2016 3:26pm

LOGAN SQUARE — Artist duo Luftwerk, known for its "otherworldly" light shows at Chicago landmarks like the Garfield Park Conservatory and The Bean, wants to illuminate The 606's Bloomingdale Trail next. 

The artists — Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero — and The Trust For Public Land recently launched an online fundraising campaign to bring an LED light show to the Milwaukee Avenue bridge along the trail. 

The light colors would change based on changes to temperature, humidity and wing using data collected from a weather station installed on the trail, according to Bachmaier.

As of Monday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $800.

A spokeswoman for The Trust For Public Land, project manager for The 606, couldn't immediately provide a total cost of the project, saying instead that it's part of The 606 arts budget.

If enough money is raised, the project would be built in mid-December and could stay up for about five years.

"We are very fond of The 606 and we're users of it as well," Bachmaier said. "Using weather data will amplify what people are already experiencing on the trail. It will have an ethereal quality to it."

TurningSky_MAC from The 606 on Vimeo.

“Through community collaboration and input, we learned that the community wanted to experience The 606 as a living work of art, with major installations, artwork, and performances spanning the 2.7-mile park and trail system,” said Jamie Simone, interim Chicago Region Director for The Trust for Public Land, in a prepared statement. “'Turning Sky' is a part of that greater vision and we are encouraged by the community’s support.”

The Trust For Public Land was tapped by the Chicago Park District to manage the planning, design and development the innovative "rails-to-trails" project which transformed an old railroad line into a 2.7-mile elevated trail.

The installation is just one art project of many The Trust For Public Land hopes to bring to the elevated trail. The group is looking to raise $25,000 by Dec. 31 to reach its year-end goal.

"In addition to making Turning Sky possible, your gift to The Trust for Public Land will help us continue to bring diverse artists to The 606 and install more thought-provoking art that provokes and forges community through innovative, free programming."

This isn't the first Luftwerk project on The 606. The Chicago-based studio installed a temporary light show at the Humboldt Boulevard viaducts for the trail opening.

To donate, visit the online campaign.

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