Neighborhood News: ‘Art on THE MART’ in River North
Take an evening stroll on the Riverwalk, by the historic Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza. Around 7:30pm, and again at 8pm, watch a myriad of colorful images illuminate the Riverwalk, creating a digital portrait on the side of one of Chicago’s historic landmarks.
For the past five years, ART on THE MART has transformed the Merchandise Mart into a larger-than-life art canvas. In 2023, the side of the Mart will come alive again, featuring the works of internationally renowned artist Derrick Adams, as well as new works by local Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors.
This year’s spring programming will be on view nightly at 8:30 p.m. from this Friday, April 14 to July 5.
The digital display Funtime Unicorn: Ruby Rides Through Four Seasons, celebrates Black joy, love and play, according to the display’s website. “The story unfolds across the four seasons and begins with Ruby in a playground before she embarks on adventures through joyful dreamscapes. Ruby’s journeys feature a majestic display of colorful backgrounds and light tunnels across the 2.5 acres of THE MART, while visitors will also watch the flowers bloom, leaves fall, and snow drop in the playground as she returns for each season.”
Viewers will be transported through Ruby’s journey by the narration of a young girl, with background vocals by Cleo Reed, set to an original jazz-trumpet soundscape by Dave Guy from the Roots.
Funtime Unicorn will also be part of a new public commission on Chicago’s Navy Pier, as well as Adams’s work featuring as part of Rhona Hoffman Gallery’s booth. 2023 is a significant year for the artist with a new ‘Art at Amtrak’ commission inside Penn Station, the Beyond Granite project inviting him to install a temporary work on the National Mall in DC, and his Last Resort Artist Retreat welcoming its first month-long residence to Baltimore this Spring. On view from Adams’s ART on THE MART commission is presented in partnership with Rhona Hoffman Gallery, which also has a solo exhibition of Adams’s work on show until April 1, 2023.
Art on theMART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, projecting contemporary artwork across the 2.5 acre river-façade of theMART. Collections are typically on view seven evenings per week for approximately three months and generally rotate with the spring, summer and fall seasons. The platform is on view and open to the public 9 months per year, April – December. Last year, they featured works from artists Nick Cave, Jasmin Taylor, and Yuge Zhou, as well as select works from the CPS Class of 2022.
Addams’ work is best viewed on The Chicago Riverwalk, between Wells and Lake Streets, according to the website. The Riverwalk is accessible via any of the stairways along Wacker Dr. There are ADA compliant ramps providing Riverwalk access located at the east side of State Street, the west side of Clark Street, and the west side of Franklin Street.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
