10 Sep Julie Mehretu Window Added to Obama Presidential Center
Source Credit: Content and images from Ocula Magazine. Read the original article - https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/julie-mehretu-obama-presedential-center/
The painted-glass construction Uprising of the Sun has been installed on the north facade of the Center’s museum building, which will open in the Spring of 2026.
Uprising of the Sun by Julie Mehretu, campus view rendering. Courtesy The Obama Foundation, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, and Julie Mehretu Studio.
Julie Mehretu‘s 25-metre-tall window has been added to the museum building at the Obama Presidential Center, which is under construction on the South Side of Chicago. Uprising of the Sun is made up of 35 glass panels created through a combination of hand painting, airbrushing, masking, and melted ceramics.
The work, Mehretu’s first created in glass, was inspired by President Obama’s remarks at the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.
‘I wanted to honour Chicago’s history and President Obama’s legacy by telling a story about how change happens,’ she said. ‘This work is layered with history, and I’m eager to see how people will connect with it—whether you’re a grandparent from the South Side of Chicago or a kid from Addis Ababa. I hope it serves as an invitation to every visitor that they are welcome to be a part of the Center’s mission to make an impact and work towards a better future.’
Mehretu has previously embraced opportunities to work in new media and collaborate with organisations and corporations. Her BMW Art Car made its Asia debut at Frieze Seoul last week.
President Obama said, ‘Julie learned at a young age how access to public space can help shape and affect people’s lives. For her to be a part of what we hope will be a transformative institution that will be unique in how it brings so many different people, ideas, and resources together is a wonderful opportunity for us.’
Artist Julie Mehretu tours the Obama Presidential Center site on 7 September, 2024. Courtesy The Obama Foundation.
The 19.3 acre Obama Presidential Center campus will feature over 20 original artworks when it opens, including Chicago artist Richard Hunt‘s Book Bird sculpture and a water feature called Seeing Through the Universe by Maya Lin.
As well as the museum, the site will feature an auditorium, athletic facilities, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a fruit and vegetable garden, and more. —[O]
Source Credit: Content and images from Ocula Magazine. Read the original article - https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/julie-mehretu-obama-presedential-center/