Art
PHOTOGRAPH: BOB NEWHART, PICASSO, MAN WITH FISH: JACLYN RIVAS; BEAN, MIRO: GRACE ALLEN
Write your Art
Look who’s talking now
More than 30 of Chicago’s most iconic public artworks break their silence, and boy, do they have a lot to say. By Madeline Wolfson
Our favorite friendly giants find their voices in “Statue Stories Chicago,” a free citywide project by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation through summer 2016. Stars like Jack McBrayer, Steve Carell, John C. Reilly and Shonda Rhimes give voice to these silent figures. Chicago thespians lend vocal talents, playwrights pen monologues and Bob Newhart plays—who else?—Bob Newhart! While you should make a point to hear ’em all out, these are some of our favorite lines from these larger- than-life performances. Whip out your smartphone at your favorite to receive a call and an earful.
“Can I ask you a question? What am I? Because I don’t know!”
The Picasso, voiced by Deanna Dunagan Since 1967, we’ve been scratching our heads over Picasso’s baffling beast. Turns out, so has she. Voiced by Tony Award–winning Deanna Dunagan, in a monologue by playwright Mickle Maher, the Chicago Picasso vents about loneliness, identity confusion and about how kids slide down her while
“It’s the same thing all women should realize about themselves. Other people’s judgments are wrong.”
Miró’s Chicago, voiced by Shonda Rhimes TV empress Shonda Rhimes gives her writing talent and voice to Chicago’s voluptuous Miró, who’s taking a stand for herself and women everywhere. Initially met with criticism and protest in 1981, the awkward prong-topped figure advocates for her right to take up space, proudly flaunts her proportions and lets critics know she’s not going anywhere. Originally named The Sun, The Moon and One Star, this Chicago shines extra bright in Rhimes’s takedown of body shamers and championing of self-love. Preach!
Cloud Gate, voiced by David Schwimmer
she remains barren. We’re thrilled to learn that Picasso’s bizarre gift to this city is just as weird and wonderful as we’d always imagined.
Since its debut in 2006, both locals and clamoring tourists have referred to Anish Kapoor’s legume- shaped mirror as the Bean. Well apparently someone’s a little salty. Why Schwimmer’s voice fits so perfectly with Cloud Gate we can’t quite explain, but there’s something so frickin’ brilliant about getting accosted by our favorite friend as he invites us to reflect upon our own existence.
“I’m very fortunate to have pants.”
Man with Fish, voiced by Steve Carell
Steve Carell can’t help but take the bait to deliver a stream of jokes so bad, they’re great. German artist Stephan Balkenhol created the giant figure that has called Shedd Aquarium home since 2001. Hightail it to the Shedd yourself to bust a gut with punny-man Carell.
September–November 2015
TIMEOUT.COM/CHICAGO 59
own review at
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Edited by Madeline Wolfson
art.chi@
timeout.com @MadelineWolfson
“A lot of people lie down on the couch.… Their friends take a picture, and when they get back home, they’ll say, ‘I was in Chicago. I got psychoanalyzed by Bob Newhart!’”
Bob Newhart, voiced by Bob Newhart
The statue of Bob Newhart in his role as Bob Hartley comes to life through his own words. Relax on Bob’s couch while the comedy legend fawns all over our city and citizens. TV Land commissioned the homage and planted him on Michigan Ave in 2004, but these days you can come say “Hi, Bob!” at his retirement home on Navy Pier.
“Rumor has it my name is the Bean, which frankly I find a bit reductive.”
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