Chicago introduced the concept of public art. Here we are at the Constellation Sculpture. This 29-foot-tall spiraling metal structure is a visual focal point. It faces west toward the Chicago River’s confluence. The north and south branches meet its main stem here.
Santiago Calatrava designed the Constellation. He is a world-renowned Spanish-Swiss architect, structural engineer, sculptor, and painter. Calatrava intended for the sculpture to grow from the ground. Its internal logic delivers lyrical forms. It implies a sense of elevation and spiritual uplifting. This reflects the River Point building’s mirrored architectural arch.
The Constellation features red leafy sculptures. It is showcased for your viewing pleasure. The sculpture stands 29 feet in height and width. It twists in an outward-reaching spiral. Overlapping leaf-like elements descend in scale. They go from very large at the base to very small at the outer reach. The massive layered spiral reveals stunning architectural depth. It shows overhang and movement.
The sculpture is in River Point Park. This park lies at the base of the River Point building. The 732-foot-tall office tower was completed in 2017. The adjacent river banks include Chicago’s Riverwalk. Its most continuous stretch runs along the south side of the main branch. It begins less than a two-minute walk from the Constellation.
Hines oversaw the River Point park and tower. They privately funded the Constellation. The construction cost was in the millions of dollars. Calatrava also designed the World Trade Center Transit Hub. He designed Malmö’s Turning Torso too.
The bright red crescent pieces align tangentially. They create a spiral pattern. These pieces convey a centripetal momentum. They seem to fan outward like spinning water.
The model used in selecting the Constellation will be displayed. It will be at the Art Institute of Chicago. It will be alongside models for Chicago’s Picasso, Calder, and Dubuffet sculptures.
The Constellation was completed in November 2020. It is the first work Calatrava completed in Chicago. Calatrava acknowledged that the city introduced the concept of public art. The sculpture draws upon the curvilinear lines of the river. It also uses the Lake Street bridge. It uses the east facade of 444 West Lake Street too.