Sculpting Chicago
For the final project, Windy City: A Chicago Atlas, I am planning to map out the different statues around the Loop. I have always been captivated by the stories the city holds, and one of the many ways stories are told is through art. The city has been around since the 1830s, and the artwork found here reflects the ever-changing mindset of the growing generations. With this I would like to tell the ever-changing story of Chicago through permanence represented by the statues found here; my area of focus being the Loop because it is so popular, causing the belief that stronger, more prominent times will be represented. The Chicago Loop is what comes to mind when most people think about the city of Chicago, this being the main reason for the consistent infection of tourists in the area. Having been one of those tourists before moving here, and still being one now, I have somehow impacted the story of Chicago, but I need to understand the past before I can help write the future.
In response to Malchik, is walking a luxury, a privilege, a necessity, or a right, and why? What are the threats to walking? How does where you live influence how you live?
In response to Malchik, I found that walking is not just a luxury, just a privilege, just a necessity or a right; walking is not just simply one of these, it is all of them. Walking used to be the only form of transportation which made it a right to all who were able, yet over time this “right” has turned into more of a privilege and luxury. Malchik points out that this is specifically seen in poorer neighborhoods where businesses are farther away, and there is such a push against sidewalks so they are unfinished. Walking, however, is necessary because in this car dominating culture people are hurting both their physical and mental health; physically, walking is a form of exercise, and walking supports mental health by meshing cognitive and sensory process. There are obstacles put in place, that are a threat to anyone who walks; laws like ones that are against loitering due to negative perceptions, the new design of towns to be centered around car travel, and the overall lack of new sidewalks being built are just a few threats. These threats change based upon where you live, for example, living center city everything is close to you and walking is not an issue, compared to the suburbs where things are more spread out and there is not necessarily a safe way to walk around.
