A silent gathering, frozen in time. That’s the first impression you get standing before Agora, a powerful installation at the south end of Grant Park. Agora isn’t just a collection of statues. It’s an experience. This crowd of 106 iron figures, headless and armless, stands nine feet tall, each weighing about 1,800 pounds. They seem to mill about, some facing each other, others looking away, inviting you to walk among them. The reddish, rusting iron gives them a bark-like texture, adding to their silent, timeless quality. Chicago, with its vibrant Polish-American community, sought a major work by Magdalena Abakanowicz, the artist behind Agora, for years. Plans for a giant hand, animal sculptures, and even headless figures at the Museum Campus fell through. Finally, Mayor Richard M. Daley suggested the south end of Grant Park. By 2006, thanks to private donations (including one from Robin Williams), Agora found its home here, on permanent loan from the Polish Ministry of Culture. Abakanowicz, who lived through World War II, has stated her fear of crowds influenced her work. She described crowds as “brainless organisms acting on command”. Yet, Agora evokes a range of emotions. Some see it as a reflection on democracy, others as a somber meditation on individuality. It is a meeting place, an agora in the ancient Greek sense, inviting you to ponder your place within the crowd, within society. Walk among these silent figures. Let them speak to you. What do you hear?
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one