Art on theMart Set to Illuminate World's Largest Canvas

WDCB’s Gary Zidek caught up with Art on theMart executive director Cynthia Noble to talk about Chicago’s new public art platform.

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WDCB's Gary Zidek sits down with Art on theMart executive director Cynthia Noble.

“It’s absolutely the right time to think about a new public art work, a new digital public art work, for our own time. So, we see this as the next iconic work that will be a touchstone for Chicagoans.” - Cynthia Noble talking about how Art on theMart fits into Chicago’s collection of public art.

Cynthia Noble, Executive Director of Art on theMart

Unlike the steel, bronze and glass sculptures that make up most of Chicago’s public art collection, Art on theMart is a new breed of installation that’s made of light.  Using advanced technology, digital art from a rotating roster of artists will be projected onto the river-facing façade of the Merchandise Mart. now known simply as theMart.

Rendering of what Art on theMart will look like

High-powered projectors designed by San Francisco-based Obscura Digital were installed on the other side of the Chicago River. The system will be able to project nearly one million lumens of light that will illuminate moving and static images.

There will never be any commercials or sponsored messaging projected on theMart. The digital art projections on display will be curated by an advisory board.

Art on theMart will be officially unveiled to the public on Saturday September 29. The opening program festivities will commence at 7:15pm. Wacker is being closed off between Wells and Orleans Street, people can view the projections from the street or the Riverwalk. If you can’t make it to the big opening night, the projections will be displayed up to two hours a night, five nights a week (Wednesday through Sunday), between March and December … for the next 30 years. So, there will be plenty opportunities to check on the new public art installation. You find all the details here.