Wayfindings, 2023

Metal, paint and digitally imaged porcelain enameled panels
158” x 155” x 80” (plaza sculpture a); 263” x 95” x 71” (plaza sculpture b); 85” x 200” x 134” (plaza sculpture c); 17.5” x 17.5” x .25” (each of 16 bollard panels); 500” x 119” x 6” (wallwork)
Lead Photography by Jordan Porter-Woodruf (see full list of contributors below)

City of Chicago Public Art Collection – 2023 – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot 

Wayfindings is a series of artworks shaped by their place and informed by the people they serve. Located on the campus of the city’s new Joint Public Safety Training Campus and newest Boys & Girls Club, the project is a way to highlight the multiple purposes of the buildings and the intention of the campus as a new neighborhood icon and a visual representation of bridge building — between youth, first responders and the community. Key to the work is the process that got us there. Through an extensive community outreach plan, 16 young people, several first responders and numerous anonymous community members contributed over 600 photos, and text-based responses to the prompt “What makes you feel, home, safe, proud, joyous or free?” These submissions were then compiled and used to develop “place-made” patterns and signage that creates a shared space of positivity throughout the campus. The project is comprised of three parts: portal sculptures, bollard panels and a wallwork This project is what it is because of the many partners and community contributions listed below.

Contributors: Ebene Anderson, Officer Danielle Brown, Sergeant Edgar Brown, Vanessa Buenconsejo, Tamia Cole-Hammond, Michael Crowley, Rodolfo De Jesus, Lieutenant Jermaine Harris, Tevin Haynes, Tamia Hammond, Dylan Hawkins, Re’yonna Igess, Jason Klinker, Kyris Kyles, Nathan Mason, Amira Murray, Jamari Murray, Sean Neuart, Julie Ordower, Maryrose Pavkovic, Kortnee Quiza, Michael Reid Jr., Johnny Reyes, Maxwell Riordan, Lydia Ross, Robert Smith, Malachi Smith , TreyShaun Strong, Avion Tart, Jayden Tart, Jametria Taylor, Aleia Thurman, Saniyah Thurman, Ahrianna Turner, Ahyanna Turner, Nancy Villafranca, Officer Edward Whitaker Jr., Joshua White

Planning: Austin Coming Together, Boys and Girls Club, Bureau of Architecture, Engineering & Construction/Department of Assets, Information, and Services, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department, Community Leadership Fellows, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Department of Planning and Development, Office of Alderman Emma Mitts, Root2Fruit Youth Foundation

Project management: Neon Fab
Engineering:Rockey Structures
Fabrication : FabHaus, Vector Custom Fabricating, Winsor Fireform
Installation: Chicago Fine Art Solutions