The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will host a public meeting on Wednesday, October 1, to solicit community ideas for the new public art being commissioned for the Damen station as part of the Your New Blue project – a $492 million investment to improve and upgrade the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line.
Originally opened in 1895, the Damen station beginning in October will receive substantial improvements to the stationhouse exterior and interior, platform and other station elements. Work includes structural repairs, painting, new platforms, improved lighting, signage, and new bike racks. The station’s historic features will be preserved and restored. Upon completion of this work, the station will receive a new, original work of art installed for permanent display. To complete the work, the station will close temporarily on October 20 and will reopen December 22. The CTA will provide additional #56 Milwaukee bus service to accommodate passengers during this period.
Members of the community surrounding the Damen station are invited to attend the following meeting to meet Gaston Nogues of Ball-Nogues Studio, the artist-team selected to create the new artwork for the station. Input gathered during this meeting will be collected and provided to the artist team as they begin preparing their art concept:
Wednesday October 1
6 to 7 p.m.
The Silver Room*
1442 N. Milwaukee Avenue
(*This facility is accessible to people with disabilities)
The CTA received 100 responses to a Call for Artists that was issued in December soliciting artist qualifications for the Damen, Western and California stations, all of which are being renovated as part of Your New Blue.
More than 50 works of art are currently on display at 41 CTA stations along all eight rail lines. Over the next few years, this collection will expand to include 21 new, original works of art as part of the recently completed Red North 7 and Red Line South Reconstruction projects and also as part of the upcoming Wilson Station Reconstruction, 95th Street Terminal Improvements and the Your New Blue projects.
In December 2013, the CTA and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Your New Blue, the most ambitious service improvement project on the Blue Line since it was extended to O'Hare Airport in 1984. The program will benefit the more than 80,000 customers who each weekday use stations along the branch, which had 25 million rides last year. Your New Blue will update a total of 13 Blue Line stations; make elevated and subway infrastructure upgrades; track signal improvements and traction power upgrades.
More information on this project is available at: transitchicago.com/yournewblue/
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