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Art with a Purpose
Chicago's Global Warming Globes By Charlene Torkelson
It's been done in the past. Several cities have introduced summer projects to promote a combination of tourism, art and local industry through uniquely designed giant statues. Chicago had the "Cows on Parade" project in 1999 involving – yes, you guessed it – large statues of cows. Cincinnati had its 425 pigs in 2000. St. Paul had its "Peanuts" characters.
But this summer Chicago is taking the idea in a different direction – it's not just an art exhibit but "art with a purpose." With more than 122 5-foot fiberglass globes, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago unveiled its "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" program June 2, 2007, at The Field Museum Campus's gala grand opening ceremony featuring speaker Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This program not only will involve industry participation, local artisans, government, schools and tourist-friendly events throughout the city, but will focus on the theme of global warming in an attempt to educate and communicate the need for recycling, reducing the use of and conserving our natural resources.
This public art project will run from June through September, ending with an auction of the globes to raise money for establishing conservation clubs in the public schools of Chicago. These after-school clubs meet to perform environmentally friendly community projects with a "reduce global warming" theme. The idea is to increase awareness for public and private green buildings, reduced fuel use, increased use of energy-efficient wind and solar power and recycling.
"Cool Globes" is a $3 million effort to heighten the public's understanding of our global resources. Celebrities such as actors Jodie Foster and Leonardo DiCaprio will join other public figures to promote this exhibit. Messages from former President Bill Clinton and current Senator Barack Obama will raise awareness and finances for this worthy cause.
