Publish Date
A public art installation based on the popular outdoor game hopscotch.
A public art installation based on the popular outdoor game hopscotch.
Photo: Lawrence Weiner

Artist Lawrence Weiner’s hopscotch-inspired exhibit to debut at Maggie Daley Park on June 9

The Chicago Park District today announced the opening of OUT OF SIGHT, a public art installation based on the popular outdoor game hopscotch, on Saturday, June 9 at Maggie Daley Park, located at 337 E. Randolph St., at 11 a.m. Pioneering American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner’s inspiring participatory work will be unveiled during an engaging outdoor event featuring speakers, performances, activities, and giveaways. 

OUT OF SIGHT invites the public to explore the outdoor installation and think creatively about the direction of their lives as they encounter the floor-based work. The installation combines wit and whimsy in a game-like format, encouraging learning through the use of graphical phrases embedded throughout the work such as: “One Can Only Imagine the Powers that Be,” “The Destination is Straight On,” and “Assuming a Position.” 

“The Chicago Park District is proud to host OUT OF SIGHT, a creative work that combines art and recreation as well as provides a welcoming and safe opportunity for individuals of all ages to play, learn, contemplate and become inspired at a neighborhood park,” said Chicago Park District & CEO Michael P. Kelly. 

“A person coming in with whatever situation they find themselves in, the minute they have any thoughts about themselves going FROM HERE TO THERE, they will be able to stand in front of the marelle (French for hopscotch) and realize they first have to imagine themselves doing it, that’s assuming a position,” said the artist, Lawrence Weiner. 

By being able to stand, walk, or jump from one position to the next, OUT OF SIGHT inspires visitors to consider the importance of recognizing how to accomplish their life’s goals.

Guest curator and collaborator Larry Warsh shared his enthusiasm for the project, “Can you imagine if we all learned how to catch the feelings of inspiration, exuberance, and visualization and made that part of our daily lives? Wow, that would be amazing.”

Walsh Park, located at the East end of the 606 Trail, will also host the OUT OF SIGHT installation in both English and Spanish and will connect the community to the ideas, thoughts, and inspiration of the piece. The outdoor public installation will be part of the annual 606 Block Party on Saturday, June 23, and will be on display through the fall. Additional Park District sites, including Hamilton, Humboldt, and Berger Park Cultural Centers, will host workshops about the artwork and guided public interactions and activities for all ages throughout the installation. 

For exact tour dates and locations, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com. 

This exhibition was made possible in part by major support from Chicago Park District’s Public Arts Initiatives and Department of Culture, Arts and Nature, OUT OF SIGHT New York City, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), EXPO CHICAGO and the Centre for Peaceful Solutions.

The OUT OF SIGHT project has been translated into several languages—including Spanish, French, Chinese, and Dutch—to facilitate its installations in locations throughout the world. Most recently, OUT OF SIGHT has been exhibited in Miami and Melbourne and confirmed cities to date include Kortrijk, Belgium, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and New York. Additional venues in Asia, Europe, and the USA are in development.

The public is invited to share their images of the artwork using the hashtag #OUTOFSIGHTChicago. 

Chicago's parks are the settings for a world-class collection of nearly 300 fountains, monuments, and sculptures. In 2017, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Park District's public art initiative celebrated the citywide Year of Public Art (YOPA) with the installation of 52 new works of public art in over 40 parks across the city.  This year, the Park District will install more than 30 new, public art pieces citywide. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and DCASE have heralded 2018 as the Year of Creative Youth (YOCY), a citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them. The Park District’s OUT OF SIGHT installation aligns directly with this engaging and interactive initiative.