10/3/05
Gallery 37 Artwork Reflects Cubs Culture
Artwork created over the summer by Gallery 37 artists now adorns the stationhouse at the Sheridan Red Line station thanks to the Chicago Cubs. Cubs officials, local elected officials and Chicago Transit Authority representatives today announced the Cubs as the newest participant in the CTA's Adopt-A-Station program. The program links community organizations, artists and the CTA in bringing artwork to CTA locations, creating a unique gateway to communities served by the CTA.
?We are pleased to welcome the Chicago Cubs to the Adopt-A-Station family," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. ?The Sheridan station is more attractive and inviting thanks to the Cubs and Gallery 37's talented staff and students. The Cubs connection also will help promote the Sheridan station as an alternative station for getting to and from Wrigley Field for Cubs games."
?We are proud to partner with the CTA in a community effort that has beautified a station also identified with the Chicago Cubs and our loyal fans," said Chicago Cubs Vice President of Community Affairs Mike Lufrano. ?We hope our efforts will inspire others to add artistry and vitality to their neighborhood stations to reflect the surrounding community."
?The CTA's Adopt-A-Station program demonstrates our effort to seek new ways to improve the transit experience for CTA's customers, including fostering these types of public-private partnerships," said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Carole Brown. ?We appreciate the Chicago Cubs? commitment to their community, and to the CTA and its customers."
The Cubs commissioned Gallery 37 to create two pieces of art for the station that depict the culture of the Cubs and the surrounding neighborhood. The two pieces, 8.5 feet by 7 feet and 3 feet by 15 feet were created by 26 students in the gallery's innovative Center for the Arts eight week summer arts program. The artwork hangs on the north and south walls in the station's unpaid area.
In addition to the Sheridan station adoption, Cubs fans heading to Wrigley Field will enjoy the Red Line Addison station's gallery of baseball lore. Chicago artist Steve Musgrave adopted the Addison station in 1998 decorating it with his murals of popular Cubs players Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ryne Sandberg.
Currently, 20 CTA stations are under adoption including the Red Line's Cermak-Chinatown station which highlights masks and statues that capture the area's Chinese roots; the Green Line's Conservatory-Central Park Drive station adorned with mosaic murals created by neighborhood youth; and the Brown Line Merchandise Mart station which displays photography by Columbia College students.
During the baseball season CTA provides convenient, affordable bus and rail service to Wrigley Field. The Red Line Sheridan station is a convenient option for Cubs fans getting to and from games because it is within walking distance of Wrigley Field. Fans also can get to the ballpark via the accessible Red Line station at Addison. Additional rail service is provided for weeknight Cubs games via southbound Purple Line Express trains which stop at Addison and Yellow Line trains that operate two hours later than the regular schedule from Howard.
In addition to rail service, Cubs fans can access Wrigley Field from several CTA bus routes; #8 Halsted, #22 Clark, #152 Addison and the #154 Wrigley Field Express. The #154 is a bus shuttle subsidized by the Cubs, which provides direct service to Wrigley Field for night and weekend games from parking lots at DeVry University on Rockwell. A $6 fee includes parking at DeVry and round-trip bus transit for a carload of fans.
The CTA launched the Adopt-A-Station program in 1997 to develop partnerships between community organizations, local businesses and individuals. The program helps create rail stations that reflect the history and diversity of the communities served by the CTA.
Adopting organizations are offered an opportunity to enhance and revitalize the appearance of CTA rail stations by commissioning local artists to create murals, sculptures, mosaics, paintings or photographs. Stations are adopted for two years.
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