Apr

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ What’s the FUTURE of the PAST? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Chicago Monuments Project

All of Hermon MacNeil’s Lifeworks

enshrine the PAST.

SO… What is the Future of the Past?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Chicago Monuments Project

Throughout 2021 the Chicago Monuments Project has been pursuing its Mission. From over 500 public monuments in the City of Chicago, the Project has identified 41 for review related to the following issues:

Promoting narratives of white supremacy
Presenting inaccurate and/or demeaning characterizations of American Indians
Memorializing individuals with connections to racist acts, slavery, and genocide
Presenting selective, over-simplified, one-sided views of history
Not sufficiently including other stories, in particular those of women, people of color, and themes of labor, migration, and community building
Creating tension between people who see value in these artworks and those who do not [ Source: https://chicagomonuments.org/about ]

The PAST is under REVIEW

Hermon MacNeil’s

Marquette-Jolliet-Ilini Indian Memorial

is one of the 41 under review.

Webmaster, Dan Neil Leininger and Donna on their first visit to the Marquette – jolliet – Ilini monument at Marshall and Twenty-fourth Boulevard in Chicago.

A report of recommendations is expected to be released in

Summer of 2022

The Project created written introductions for each of the 41 pieces being reviewed. MacNeil’s Jacques Marquette-Louis Jolliet Memorial is introduced as follows:

Title: Jacques Marquette-Louis Jolliet Memorial

Date: 1926

Artist: Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947)

Location: Marshall and 24th Blvd

Context: As the first Europeans to explore and document the northern portion of the Mississippi, which included the river link from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi basin through what would become Chicago, French missionary Jacques Marquette and the Quebec-born cartographer Louis Jolliet, along with their Indian guides, are ubiquitous figures in the modern iconography of the founding of Chicago.

This imposing representation of Marquette and Jolliet, with a subservient American Indian at their side, was created by Hermon Atkins McNeil, the academically trained sculptor who contributed the relief sculptures of Marquette’s life to the extraordinary decorative cycle at the Marquette Building in thirty years earlier, in 1895.

Other representations of Marquette include the commemorative plaques near the site of the Damen Avenue Bridge (1930) and at the DuSable Bridge (1925), as well as on the northeast DuSable Bridge pylon (1928).

Source: Chicago Monuments Project (https://chicagomonuments.org/monuments/jacques-marquette-louis-jolliet-memorial) retrieved March 28, 2022

“Statues of Limitations:

Jackson Healy, Staff Writer for the The DePaulia ~ The Student News Site of DePaul University offered an insightful article on June 6, 2021 entitled:

“Statues of limitations:

future of 41 monuments up in air

as Chicago reckons with its nation’s past”

Whether they’re made of bronze or marble, apparently not all of Chicago’s monuments are set in stone.

On July 17, 2020, amid a nationwide racial reckoning triggered by the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a violent clash between police and protesters broke out after the protesters attempted to topple the city’s statue of Christopher Columbus in Grant Park, resulting in 12 arrests and at least 18 injured officers.

One week later, the statue was “temporarily” removed at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s discretion, and on August 12, the mayor’s office announced a citywide review of public monuments through what would become known as the Chicago Monuments Project.

The project consists of a 30-person advisory committee made up of city officials, artists, scholars, curators, architects and community leaders dedicated to assessing the city’s public works. The committee gathers input from community members and eventually will release a report with recommendations on how the city should handle its more controversial monuments, as well as a list of potential new monuments that could be commissioned.

[ For entire article CLICK HERE: ]

MacNeil’s depiction of Marquette has the priest with an inviting open right hand as his left hand holds out a crucifix above his heart. Their (Ilini) Indian guide looks on in seeming fascination.

MacNeil’s Marquette-Jolliet-Illini Memorial

“Whether they’re made

of bronze or marble,

apparently not all of Chicago’s monuments

are set in stone.”

The DePaulia

Statues of limitations …

We eagerly await the Chicago Monument Project

report scheduled to be released Summer of 2022.

Categories : 1893 Columbian Exposition -Chicago, Chicago, Chicago Downtown, Illinois, Location, Monuments, Sculptures, Statue

Comments

Dan Leininger, Webmaster says:

April 11, 2022 at 1:56 PM

Thank you, Daniel, for posting on this project — it’s all very painful..
Best wishes
* * * * *
On Thu, Apr 7, 2022 at 7:48 PM Hermon Atkins MacNeil wrote:
Ruth,
I wrote a posting on Apr 4th about the Chicago Monuments Project on my website.
Check it out:
Blessings,
Dan
Daniel Neil Leininger, Webmaster
* * * * *
On Mar 22, 2022, at 7:55 PM, Hermon Atkins MacNeil wrote:
Great, thanks!
I had not heard and was curious.
* * * * *
On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 3:20 PM R Nelson wrote:
I’ll keep you posted!
On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 3:12 PM R Nelson wrote:
Hello Dan,
I understand that the committee’s conclusions will be out by the end of this year. There was a lot of negative public opinion all around, so hopefully, they will listen!
Ruth
* * * * *
On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 1:13 PM Hermon Atkins MacNeil wrote:
Dear Ruth,
Any developments in the past year about the MacNeil Marquette – Jolliet statue?
https://chicagomonuments.org/
Do you know what stage their process is in?
The website lists the process this way:
*********
Steps For Reviewing Chicago’s Public Monuments
Engaging Chicago’s diverse communities in a conversation about public monuments ensures an improved outcome for all people.
1 The committee releases a list of monuments for public discussion.
2 The committee asks for public feedback on the list of monuments via the website and a series of public programs.
3 The committee invites proposals for new work and monuments to be developed.
4 The committee reviews public input.
5 The committee publishes their recommendations on the existing monuments and new work to be developed
Curious to know if you have any rercent information?
Dan
Daniel Neil Leininger
webmaster
* * * * *
On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 10:22 AM Hermon Atkins MacNeil wrote:
Dear Ruth,
Thank you so much for your prompting. And your devotion to Marquette’s place in history.
I was not aware of the Chicago Monument Project until your email.
Please update me of any ongoing concerns you have as it continues.
I will make a new posting of Marquette Joliet Illini Statueas it approaches its centennial year of 2026.
1926 “Marquette, Jolliet, Ilini” Statue ~Chicago
Lots of history is re-evaluated 100 years later.
MacNeil’s research on designing the monument included visiting a classroom of children at the school across the street from the site.
He also included the tribal names of 7 or 8 native people groups around the perimeter of the base of the monument.
I will send a link to the post as I finish it in May.
Thank you.
Blessing
Daniel Neil Leininger
webmaster
hermonatkinsmacneil.com
* * * * *
On Thu, Apr 8, 2021 at 1:56 PM Ruth Nelson
Dear Daniel,
We corresponded a while ago, and I’m not sure if you’re aware that the Hermon Atkins MacNeill sculpture of Fr. Marquette is being threatened with removal, and maybe destruction. I have written to newspapers, TV outlets and friends to try to save this state.
If you are also concerned, please visit this site https://chicagomonuments.org/ and voice your support to save this great statue.
Thank you,
Ruth D. Nelson