{"id":2487,"date":"2018-07-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loopchicago.local\/press-releases\/the-shape-of-chicago-john-masseys-1968-banners-revisited-takes-over-state-street\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T11:57:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T16:57:36","slug":"the-shape-of-chicago-john-masseys-1968-banners-revisited-takes-over-state-street","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/loopchicago.com\/es\/press-releases\/the-shape-of-chicago-john-masseys-1968-banners-revisited-takes-over-state-street\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Shape of Chicago: John Massey’s 1968 Banners Revisited’ Takes Over State Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

Press contact: <\/strong>Jessica Cabe | PR and Communications Manager, Chicago Loop Alliance jessica@chicagoloopalliance.com | 312-782-9160<\/p>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 18, 2018<\/strong><\/p>

CHICAGO\u2014<\/strong>Fifty years ago, downtown Chicago was brightened by a campaign of striking, graphic banners by celebrated Chicago designer John Massey. On Aug. 1, State Street between Congress Parkway and Wacker Drive will once again come alive with his designs \u2013 plus a reimagining of his work by third-grade students at Philip D. Armour Elementary School in Bridgeport.<\/p>

\u201cThe Shape of Chicago: John Massey\u2019s 1968 Banners Revisited\u201d is the result of a partnership between Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation (CLAF), the Terra Foundation for American Art and Chicago Design Museum as part of the City of Chicago\u2019s Year of Creative Youth. The initiative also coincides with Art Design Chicago<\/em>, a spirited year-long celebration of Chicago\u2019s art and design legacy spearheaded by the Terra Foundation.<\/p>

Massey\u2019s 1968 banners have been reproduced and will hang on State Street in the Loop Aug. 1-31. At the same time, students\u2019 artwork employing Massey\u2019s design language to illustrate what they love about Chicago will be displayed in the planter boxes along the street. Audio of students reflecting on their creations will play over Lightscape, Chicago Loop Alliance\u2019s (CLA) multisensory light and sound installation located in the same planter boxes. The project was meant to inspire Chicago Public Schools students to think about art, design and public space through the lens of John Massey.<\/p>

\u201cChicago Loop Alliance works to make the Loop a destination for workers, residents and visitors, and a lot of times that involves arts and cultural initiatives,\u201d said CLA President and CEO Michael Edwards. \u201cThis banner project aligns with our mission in more ways than one. It celebrates a piece of Chicago\u2019s history, it brings beauty to State Street that will make folks stop and appreciate the Loop, and it involves some of the young people who will one day shape this city. We\u2019re excited for the street to transform in August.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAs we celebrate Chicago\u2019s rich art and design history through Art Design Chicago<\/em> this year, it couldn\u2019t be more appropriate to also celebrate John Massey\u2014one of Chicago\u2019s great designers and an integral contributor to our city\u2019s creative legacy,\u201d said Amy Zinck, executive vice president of the Terra Foundation for American Art. \u201cJohn has a keen understanding of the interplay between design and civic responsibility, which is reflected in his many generous gifts to the city. His 1968 banner project is as fresh today as it was 50 years ago, and we\u2019re thrilled to help introduce a new generation of Chicagoans to his extraordinary work.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThe banners John Massey designed for Chicago in 1968 are as simple, striking and effective today as they were 50 years ago,\u201d said Tanner Woodford, founder and executive director of the Chicago Design Museum. \u201cThough the banners are timeless, a group of third grade students from Mrs. Blake’s class at Philip D. Armour Elementary School gave them new life by creating new images from the original shapes and colors. We at the Chicago Design Museum are thrilled to celebrate this work in partnership with the Terra Foundation and Chicago Loop Alliance, revitalizing a slice of our city’s rich design history along the way.\u201d<\/p>

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) designated 2018 as the Year of Creative Youth. All year long, festivals, events and initiatives celebrating young Chicagoans\u2019 creativity will take place throughout the city. This Massey project with CPS students makes for a perfect tie-in.<\/p>

\u201cWe at DCASE are so excited to see the Year of Creative Youth being embraced by this partnership, especially in a way that also celebrates a revered Chicago designer like John Massey,\u201d said DCASE Commissioner Mark Kelly. \u201cState Street will be transformed, and, we hope, so will the minds of these students who spent time working with Massey\u2019s design language to create their own art.\u201d<\/p>

An invitation-only launch event celebrating the project will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Chicago Design Museum in Block Thirty-Seven. The event will feature light drinks and hors d\u2019oeuvres, as well as remarks from the initiative\u2019s partner organizations. There will also be a short screening of a never-before-seen interview with John Massey.<\/p>

About Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation<\/strong><\/p>

The Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization that pushes the limits of what a downtown can be for its residents, workers and visitors. The Foundation seeks to enrich the Loop\u2019s public spaces through artistic expression and free cultural programming. By building a connection between people and the places they share, the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation hopes to create an inclusive downtown environment that fosters creativity and enhances the Loop\u2019s appeal to the people and businesses that are a part of it.<\/p>

Acerca de Art Design Chicago<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Art Design Chicago <\/em>is a spirited celebration of the unique and vital role Chicago plays as America\u2019s crossroads of creativity and commerce. Spearheaded by the Terra Foundation for American Art, this citywide partnership of more than 75 cultural organizations explores Chicago\u2019s art and design legacy and continued impact with more than 30 exhibitions, hundreds of events, as well as the creation of several scholarly publications and a four-part documentary presented through 2018.<\/p>

Support for Art Design Chicago<\/em> is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Presenting Partner The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Additional funding for the initiative is provided by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Joyce Foundation. The Chicago Community Trust, Leo Burnett, Polk Bros. Foundation and EXPO CHICAGO are providing in-kind support. www.ArtDesignChicago.org #ArtDesignChicago<\/p>

About the Terra Foundation for American Art<\/strong><\/p>

Since it was established in 1978, the Terra Foundation for American Art has been one of the leading foundations focused on the historical art of the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, it is committed to fostering exploration, understanding and enjoyment of American art among national and international audiences. To further cross-cultural dialogue on American art, the foundation supports and collaborates on innovative exhibitions, research and educational programs. Implicit in such activities is the belief that art has the potential both to distinguish cultures and to unite them. The foundation also provides opportunities for interaction and study through the presentation and ongoing development of its own art collection in Chicago, recognizing the importance of experiencing original works of art. www.TerraAmericanArt.org<\/p>

About the Chicago Design Museum<\/strong><\/p>

ChiDM strengthens design culture and builds community by facilitating the exchange of knowledge through dynamic experiences. Through exhibitions, public and private programs, digital media and workshops, the museum facilitates an open conversation about design across disciplines and borders. \u200bWe believe design has the capacity to fundamentally improve the human condition, and strive to make it accessible to everyone through a public space in the Chicago Loop.<\/p>

About the 2018 Year of Creative Youth<\/strong><\/p>

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2018 as the \u201cYear of Creative Youth\u201d \u2013 a citywide celebration of Chicago\u2019s young artists and the mentors who inspire them. As part of the Year of Creative Youth, Chicago\u2019s new Creative Youth Festival on Saturday, Sept. 22, across the Millennium Park Campus will showcase young artists in dance, theater, music, spoken word, the visual arts and more. Admission to the festival is free, and the schedule will be announced soon. Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the Year of Creative Youth will also feature young artists and their work at City of Chicago festivals, exhibitions and events throughout the year. For more information about the Year of Creative Youth, visit www.cityofchicago.org\/yocy\u2014and join the conversation on Facebook (Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events), Twitter @ChicagoDCASE and Instagram @ChicagoDCASE #2018isYOCY #ChiCreativeYouth #BornCreative.<\/p>

###<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Press contact: Jessica Cabe | PR and Communications Manager, Chicago Loop Alliance jessica@chicagoloopalliance.com | 312-782-9160 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 18, 2018 CHICAGO\u2014Fifty years ago, downtown Chicago was brightened by a campaign of striking, graphic banners by celebrated Chicago designer John Massey. On Aug. 1, State Street between Congress Parkway and Wacker Drive will once …<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":11639,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-2487","press_release","type-press_release","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n'The Shape of Chicago: John Massey's 1968 Banners Revisited' Takes Over State Street - Loop Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/loopchicago.com\/es\/press-releases\/the-shape-of-chicago-john-masseys-1968-banners-revisited-takes-over-state-street\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"'The Shape of Chicago: John Massey's 1968 Banners Revisited' Takes Over State Street - Loop Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Press contact: Jessica Cabe | PR and Communications Manager, Chicago Loop Alliance jessica@chicagoloopalliance.com | 312-782-9160 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 18, 2018 CHICAGO\u2014Fifty years ago, downtown Chicago was brightened by a campaign of striking, graphic banners by celebrated Chicago designer John Massey. 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