Artwork in progress recalls Marilyn Monroe dress scene
BY DARRYL HOLLIDAY Staff Reporter/dholliday@suntimes.com July 12, 2011 10:02PM
The finishing touch-ups are applied to the Marilyn Monroe sculpture that is being erected at Pioneer Court Wednesday. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
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Updated: July 13, 2011 2:11AM
The city’s newest and most revealing piece of public art is, for the most part, a mystery on the Magnificent Mile.
The lower half of a planned 26-foot-tall sculpture, installed late Monday night, was a pair of high-heeled legs — and white panties — beneath a billowing white dress — reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic scene in the film “The Seven Year Itch.”
The upper half — to be revealed Friday — is anyone’s guess.
It’s also the sort of speculation welcomed by the sculpture’s commissioner, the Zeller Realty Group.
“Art is meant to spark conversation,” said Melissa Farrell, executive assistant at the company. “Paul Zeller is into providing art for the city of Chicago. We’re happy to give people something to talk about.”
The secretive sculpture by artist Seward Johnson is making its international debut in Chicago and will be on display until Spring 2012 at Pioneer Court in the 400 block of North Michigan Avenue.
Johnson’s work is no stranger to the city.
Residents may have seen his massive 2009 sculpture at the same site based on the famous painting “American Gothic,” by Grant Wood, or his bronze sculpture, “Crack the Whip,” on the Navy Pier lawn.
His most recent work is drawing comments and criticism from residents and tourists alike.
“It’s a showstopper. It makes you want to stop and look, and it’s not even done yet,” said Coreda Miller, 42, of Hyde Park.
“I guess it’s eye candy though — especially for the men,” Miller added.
The photograph of Monroe’s dress billowing up, exposing her legs, as she stands on a subway grate was originally shot in 1954 on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Internet Movie Database.
Joe DiMaggio, Monroe’s husband, was reportedly angry that 5,000 onlookers whistled and hooted as she repeatedly missed her lines.
“What the hell’s going on here?” he said, according to Time magazine.
The movie scene was restaged on the 20th Century Fox lot because the noise of the crowd had made it unusable, according to IMDB.
The dress Monroe wore in that scene sold at auction for $4.6 million last month.
Residents will have time to debate the artistic relevance of Monroe’s wind-swept dress as they await the statue’s completion.
“Well, it’s a windy city,” said Mark Peterson, 52, of the North Side. “So, it’s appropriate.”
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