{"id":482528,"date":"2026-06-04T10:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T10:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/482528\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T10:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T10:30:15","slug":"swimmers-on-parade-new-mag-mile-sculptures-aim-to-recapture-90s-cow-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/482528\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimmers On Parade? New Mag Mile Sculptures Aim To Recapture ’90s Cow Magic"},"content":{"rendered":"

MAGNIFICENT MILE \u2014 In summer 1999, Chicago launched what became a blockbuster outdoor exhibition that changed the way how the city felt about public art.<\/p>\n

\u201cCows on Parade\u201d consisted of hundreds of cow sculptures with different themes displayed across the city. Tourists and Chicagoans alike gravitated toward the sculptures for photo opps.<\/p>\n

Twenty-seven years later, the Magnificent Mile Association is hoping to recapture some of that magic on a more focused basis with \u201cMonuments of Stillness,\u201d a new public art installation of 10 sculptures by New York artist Carole A. Feuerman.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Carole A. Feuerman sculpture \u201cJustice\u201d in front of the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue. Credit: Gwen Ihnat\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

The exhibit had its unveiling Wednesday in front of the Wrigley Building, with Alds. Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Brian Hopkins (2nd) in attendance, as well as other community leaders like events department Commissioner Kenya Merritt and Kimberly Bares, CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to the longest-running outdoor public art gallery in America: Michigan Avenue,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cThis tradition began almost 30 years ago. \u2026 We had the famous Cows on Parade installation, which really kind of started this idea that public art should be placed in the most accessible, prominent location for citizens, residents and tourists alike. And that installation started a long partnership with artists and cultural leaders that continues to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know there\u2019s lots of TikTok and Instagram moments waiting to happen here,\u201d Reilly said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Artist Carole A. Feuerman speaks near the Wrigley Building at the unveiling of her outdoor summer exhibition \u201cMonuments of Stillness.\u201d Credit: Gwen Ihnat\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

The installation consists of 10 sculptures featuring swimmers in various poses from the Wrigley Building to Oak Street along Michigan Avenue. Feuerman said many of the swimmer subjects were people from her own life. The swimmer in \u201cPatience\u201d is Feuerman\u2019s \u201cweight management doctor \u2014 she helped me lose 45 pounds.\u201d The model for \u201cBrooke with Beach Ball\u201d in front of the shops at 900 N. Michigan Ave. was the 10-year-old daughter of Feuerman\u2019s lawyer.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Carole A. Feuerman sculpture \u201cBibi on the Ball\u201d in front of the Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue. Credit: Carol Fox & Associates<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, more than 50 years, I\u2019ve explored two subjects that continue to fascinate me: the human form and water,\u201d Feuerman said during a press conference at the unveiling. \u201cWater is life, sustains us connects us, and reminds us that we\u2019re part of a larger something other than ourselves. \u2026 To touch water is in many ways to touch infinity. Throughout my life, my happiest memories have been surrounded by people and water, and those experiences have found their way into my artwork.\u201d<\/p>\n

The installation starts with two sculptures at the Wrigley Building \u2014 \u201cJustice\u201d and \u201cThe Golden Mean\u201d \u2014 and continues down Michigan Avenue. Two more sculptures \u2014 \u201cChristina\u201d in front of Neiman Marcus and \u201cContemplation (with Candy Pink Suit)\u201d in front of Burdeen Jewelers \u2014 will be installed within the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

The reflective nature of sculptures like \u201cJustice\u201d lets the viewer become part of the artwork, Feuerman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of these figures appear suspended in thought, balance and contemplation,\u201d Feuerman said. \u201cSome are elevated on mirrored spheres that reflect the city, the sky and the people standing before them. When you look into those surfaces, you become part of the work, and that was my idea. The sculpture is not complete without you, the viewer. Your reflection enters the piece, and for a moment, your story becomes the story.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"River North\u2019s Hilton Contemporary gallery offers a closer look at Feuerman\u2019s artwork. For example, viewers can even spy the water droplets in this version of Feuerman\u2019s \u201cSurvival of Serena.\u201d Credit: Gwen Ihnat\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Those looking for a closer view of Feuerman\u2019s art can also visit Arica Hilton\u2019s Hilton Contemporary gallery at 716 N. Wells St., which contains more of the sculptor\u2019s artworks.<\/p>\n

The sculptures will be on display on Michigan Avenue until November, when they will depart for California.<\/p>\n

Just about an hour after its unveiling, the Buddha-like \u201cJustice\u201d was already drawing attention from passersby.<\/p>\n

\"\"Passersby take pictures of \u201cJustice,\u201d the Carole A. Feuerman sculpture in front of the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue. Credit: Gwen Ihnat\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MAGNIFICENT MILE \u2014 In summer 1999, Chicago launched what became a blockbuster outdoor exhibition that changed the way…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":482529,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[307,304,305,306,308,93,61,60],"class_list":["post-482528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482528"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482528\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/482529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}