Rockwell

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Hidden Movers
Thomas Skomski
Mixed media
2007, Arts in Transit

This composition of industrial and natural materials symbolizes the delicate relationship between nature and humankind. Photographs of swiftly-flowing water reference the nearby Chicago River, and are suspended within glass and a structure of charred wood symbolizing the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

As the luminous images appear in perpetual motion and the burned wood speaks of disaster, we are reminded of the impermanence of nature, while the steel framework and bolt system indicate man’s ability to rebuild that which has been destroyed. The artist was inspired by the efforts of Friends of the Chicago River, an organization dedicated to restoring the fragile eco-system of the Chicago River.

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