Chicago's "seven-year itch" is coming to an end.
The initially controversial "Forever Marilyn" statue unveiled last July will be removed from her temporary Pioneer Court home on Monday. The 26-foot Marilyn Monroe creation by Seward Johnson will find a new, temporary home in California.
Monroe will be installed at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon and Palm Canyon drives in Palm Springs, NBC Chicago has learned. She should be installed by the end of May and will stay in place until June of next year.
The statue, inspired by the 1955 film "The Seven-Year Itch," has attracted hundreds of picture takers, but Marilyn didn't receive heaps of praise when she arrived last summer.
Some viewed the statue of Monroe's iconic, skirt-billowing pose as sexist. One website, VirtualTourist.com, ranked it the worst piece of public art in the world.
VirtualTourist also questioned why a likeness of the star's famous, New York City-based stance was placed in Chicago and said the towering, blown dress forced many to peer up at Marilyn's panties.
Over time the statue became the target of vandalism and at least a couple evil stares. But the artist didn't mind. He wanted to start a conversation
"I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the variety of reactions to the sculpture," Johnson said in a statement. "The city of Chicago is richly appreciative of public art in all its forms and is a model for other cities to follow."
