Public Art

The CTA has announced plans to add to its growing public art collection with six works scheduled for installation as part of the reconstruction of the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations.

The Addison work features painted glass panels by Italian artist Francesco Simeti, while the Western installation is cast concrete seating units by Edra Soto and Dan Sullivan.

Los Angeles-based artist Shinique Smith, who has also done works for New York's MTA and LA Metro.

Last week the city and the CTA announced funding to promote TOD along busy bus lines and a pilot of info screens inside buses.

Don’t worry art lovers, the city assures us that the project to bring faster, more efficient bus service to the Loop won't permanently upstage one of Chicago’s most beloved public sculptures. The Chicago Department of Transportation says they have plans to use lighting and signs to highlight a statue by the famed Spanish artist Joan Miró, which is now located behind a giant Loop Link bus rapid transit shelter.

[This piece also ran in Checkerboard City, John's transportation column in Newcity Magazine, which hits the streets on Wednesday evenings.]

This week, the CTA held a series of community meetings where South Siders had a chance to meet the artists selected to create public art as part of the $425 million South Red Line rehab, from Cermak-Chinatown to 87th Street. The pieces are meant to improve the aesthetics of the stations and enhance the rider experience along the recently overhauled transit corridor.