Chicago

City of Chicago Announces Plans to Celebrate Iconic Picasso Statue

The City of Chicago has announced an ambitious plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous Picasso statue that resides at Daley Plaza.

According to a press release, the city will mark the anniversary by restaging the unveiling of the statue. The event, which will be free and open to the public, will take place at noon on Aug. 8, and will also feature a free film and lecture series as part of the festivities.

“Chicago’s Picasso is a representation and celebration of the lasting contributions public art make to this city,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “With a daring design ahead of its time, the Picasso has been influencing public art since the 1967 unveiling.”

Numerous artists will perform at the restaging of the unveiling, including Orbert Davis, Tatsu Aoki, and the Chicago Children’s Choir.

The famous sculpture stands 50 feet tall, and has been featured in several films, including “The Blues Brothers” and “The Fugitive.” According to the city, the statue was unveiled to largely mixed reviews, but since then it has become one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. 

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