Agency to solicit input for artwork being commissioned for the Illinois Medical District Blue Line and Diversey Brown Line Stations
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will host two upcoming meetings to allow members of the communities surrounding the Illinois Medical District (IMD) Blue Line and Diversey Brown Line stations an opportunity to provide input and meet renowned, Chicago-based artists Jason Messinger and Mathew Wilson who were hired to commission new works of art for each location, respectively.
In October, the Chicago Transit Board approved the award of contracts as part of CTA’s ongoing commitment to have artwork at all rail stations within the City of Chicago and other key transit locations throughout its service region. These works of art will further enhance the travel experience for commuters, while also adding to the character of the surrounding communities.
To assist the artists as they begin preparing their project renderings, the CTA will host a public meeting, where customers, residents and neighbors will have the opportunity to meet the artists and share input on the art being commissioned for each location:
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Diversey Artwork Meeting
Thursday, March 16
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ann Sather Restaurant*
909 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
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IMD Artwork Meeting
Monday, March 20
6 p.m. to 7:30.m.
Central West Center*
2102 W. Ogden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612
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*Both facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
CTA issued a Call for Artists in December seeking local, national and international artists to submit their qualifications and portfolios for consideration. Chosen from a competitive field of more than 350 artists, Mr. Messinger and Mr. Wilson were selected by an evaluation committee based on their artistic merit, qualifications, professional recognition and their written statements of interest.
Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel, CTA’s collection of public art has nearly doubled since 2011 – currently boasting more than 60 works of art across all eight rail lines. It includes mosaics, art glass and sculptures created by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, many of whom are local. Over the next few years, CTA’s public art collection will further expand to include nearly a dozen new works of art.
About Artist Jason Messinger (IMD Blue Line)
www.jasonmessingerart.com
Jason Messinger creates art that straddles the cool allure of pure abstraction and the hot recognition of representation. His ceramic tile murals, sculptures and paintings explore the boundary between identity and design, meaning and beauty, and re-imagines the world into patterns and diagrams of movement and color, light and gesture. Mr. Messinger’s work is placed in the City of Chicago Public Art Collection as well as in numerous private, corporate, and public collections in North America, Europe, Asia, and in Australia.
About Artist Mathew Wilson (Diversey Brown Line)
www.industryoftheordinary.com
Mathew Wilson, a native of Reading, England, is a Chicago visual and performance artist. He received a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA from Humberside University, UK. Mr. Wilson produces art as an individual artist and together with artist Adam Brooks as the team, Industry of the Ordinary, which was founded in 2003. Mr. Wilson has been awarded three grants from the Illinois Arts Council, two grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Humanities Council and a travel grant from the Austrian Government.
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