Saturday Snapshot: Forever Marilyn
Here are a few more photos from my trip to the city last week. I was there to meet a friend for lunch but arrived a little early to walk up to the lakefront to look for the Snowy Owls that had been spotted in the area. No owls, but I passed a few pieces of public art that I couldn’t resist photographing.
Prominently displayed in Pioneer Court near the Michigan Avenue bridge is a 26-foot-tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in her famous pose from The Seven Year Itch. The sculpture, titled Forever Marilyn, arrived on Michigan Avenue last summer and will be here until spring.
The tourists have been loving this and can often be seen standing underneath while being photographed.
When the statue was first unveiled it got a lot of criticism by the local press and a few scathing reviews calling it tasteless, creepy and sexist. But that settled down after a few weeks and now it’s just another piece of art.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
Under My Apple Tree 
Such terrific photos. At first I could not grasp what it really was because it seems so out of proportion [large] to be a statue. The second photo really nails it, for perspective.
I want to SEE this thing in person, now.
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I’ve heard news of this statue, but I suspect that I remain in the creepy camp. I wonder what Marilyn would have thought of it? It would be interesting to see, but I’m not sure that it should have been made.
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It kind of grows on you. We get a lot of different art in the city. Last year we had a giant eyeball but I didn’t get a picture of it before it left. Now that was unusual.
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Amazing – so huge! I can well imagine it gets lots of attention – of one sort or another. Where will it go after spring?
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It goes back to the owner, The Sculpture Foundation. I haven’t heard where it will go from there.
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WOW, you really get a feel for being there to see this. Now I understand the controversy, although I’m in the “I love it camp”.
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I like it too. I think some of the passersby (mostly men I’m afraid) standing under it and making leering gestures while being photographed turned off more than a few people.
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WOW! that is so fantastic! What a fun piece of sculpture. Sometimes, you see these big sculptures of just twisted metal and they are so boring. Who could resist having their picture taken with this?
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It isn’t even tourist season and there were people having their photo taken under it the day I was there.
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Not sure what I think. It could have been made less controversial, maybe smaller.
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Thanks for the background info – I wonder where she’ll go after Chicago. Great pics but I’m sorry you didn’t get to see the owls.
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They owls have been fairly elusive. I’m still hoping to see one before they migrate back to the arctic in March.
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Great sculptured rendition of this iconic image from Marilyn’s life (and film). I’m in the “loving it” camp, too.
Thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT
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I like it because it’s so big. A little statue would have little impact.
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I would love to see that! I had no idea it’s only temporary – will it travel to another city next?
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I would be fun if it would go on tour but so far I haven’t heard anything other than it goes back to the owner, The Sculpture Foundation.
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That is a fun sculpture, and it’s good when art create discussion. Personally I really like it and would like to see it in person some day, where ever it is. Thanks for sharing.
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Oh wow! That sculpture is so lifelike.
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It is a great sculpture. and a great photo. Where were you expecting Owls.
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Snowy Owls have been sighted along the lakefront near Montrose Harbor. They’ve been seen perching on light poles.
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Mmm, not sure what I think of the sculpture. Not surprised though that people are often seen standing under it. That says more to me than the sculpture itself.
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Hi Leslie,
I think that the statue looks great and I just hope that there is going to be suitable permanent place for her in the Spring, unless of course she is going on tour?
It is so lifelike and not at all tasteless, this is how the whole world remembers her, so why not show her in this way, rather than some contrived ‘decent’ pose, which just wouldn’t have been authentic
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I like that the sculptor used an iconic pose for Marilyn. Not sure where it will go next other than back to the owner.
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I was in Chicago in June and totally missed this – but a friend of mine took her family there in September and had pictures taken by this statue…. so cool!
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You didn’t miss it. It was covered with a tarp while it was being assembled and wasn’t unveiled until July.
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That’s a great, iconic shot of Marilyn. It might be better if she were human-sized. Then people could pose with her without looking up her dress. Here’s Mine
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I heard that there was a controversy about where that statue was placed…and that some people didn’t like it there because they thought it was tacky or something
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I didn’t realize it was so big at first glance. It does seem a little tacky to be looking up her dress, but as a work of art I think it’s fun. We have life-size Marliyn and Elvis statues in front of the movie theater in our town, so I did a double take with your photo when I realized how small the real people in the photo are.
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Wow! I hadn’t even heard of this before. Wonderful photo!
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I agree with Paulita..I think a life-size one would be better. It is kind of weird to make her so huge, especially when you can look up her dress. Fun photo!
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I love it! And if it makes people a little uncomfortable, thinking about the things it implies, so much the better. People need a good kick in the sensibilities now and then.
Saturday Snapshot
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Great photos! It seems an oddly designed statue, but I do like Marilyn.
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That is so cool!! I would love to see that sculpture. I wonder how many people look up her skirt, although at that size I guess you couldn’t help it! 😀
Great photos!
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