Ald. Tunney hopes to bring Elaine Place Giraffes back to Boystown
Tue. November 20, 2012 11:54 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
elaine place giraffes removed nov. 11
photo credit // joe e. dale
Lakeview Patch: Sculptures removed for insurance reasons
Chicago, IL -
Alderman Tom Tunney (44th Ward) is working to have the two iconic giraffe sculptures and "nanny goat" returned to Chicago's Boystown neighborhood after they were removed over insurance concerns.
ChicagoPride.com first reported the life-size recreations, that flanked Elaine Place at Roscoe and Cornelia, were removed from their pedastals on Nov. 11 after Chicago developer Milton Zale, 70, sold his portfolio of Elaine Place rental buildings to Chicago Apartment Finders.
"As they are a true community treasure, I relayed our desire to see the pieces returned to Lakeview," Tunney wrote on his Facebook page about his recent discussions with Zale, who still owns the sculptures.
An official with Tunney's office confirmed to the Lakeview Patch that the Alderman was working closely with Zale to bring the pieces back to the neighborhood.
"When Milton sold the buildings to Chicago Apartment Finders, they didn't want the artwork because of insurance reasons," said Erin Duffy, Director of Community Outreach. "He was basically giving the statues to them for free, and they didn't want them. So now he's refurbishing them, and while he would like them to go back to their original place, Tom's still working on it."
In a Nov. 12 statement to ChicagoPride.com, Chicago Apartment Finders Director of Property Management Kimberly Carr said, "Chicago Apartment Finders tried to have the Kearney statues conveyed at closing, but the previous owner elected to have them removed. We are aware and sensitive to the concerns from local neighbors and community groups and we are doing everything in our power to have the statues returned to their rightful position."
Carr did not return requests by ChicagoPride.com for comment on the insurance concerns.
Zale commissioned the exquisite giraffe sculptures by Chicagoan John Kearney in 1978 - the goat in 1999 - and permanently installed them on the three corners of Elaine Place. The sculptures became a major attraction for people walking through the neighborhood.
"We were very sad and upset that they couldn't remain where so many people have enjoyed them for so many years," John's wife Lynn Kearney told ChicagoPride.com. "Perhaps some other person or group in the community could buy them and install them in a nearby park."
A spokeswoman for Zale Realty said the sculptures are undergoing minor restoration and repair, yet the future home of the giraffes and goat is unknown.
Kearney's works remain in major museum and collections throughout the U.S., including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Other outdoor works are scattered throughout Chicago, including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scare Crow, Dorothy and Toto in Oz Park and a gorilla in front of the Uptown Hull House.
"John is very pleased that people do care about his work," said Mrs. Kearney.
ChicagoPride.com first reported the life-size recreations, that flanked Elaine Place at Roscoe and Cornelia, were removed from their pedastals on Nov. 11 after Chicago developer Milton Zale, 70, sold his portfolio of Elaine Place rental buildings to Chicago Apartment Finders.
"As they are a true community treasure, I relayed our desire to see the pieces returned to Lakeview," Tunney wrote on his Facebook page about his recent discussions with Zale, who still owns the sculptures.
An official with Tunney's office confirmed to the Lakeview Patch that the Alderman was working closely with Zale to bring the pieces back to the neighborhood.
"When Milton sold the buildings to Chicago Apartment Finders, they didn't want the artwork because of insurance reasons," said Erin Duffy, Director of Community Outreach. "He was basically giving the statues to them for free, and they didn't want them. So now he's refurbishing them, and while he would like them to go back to their original place, Tom's still working on it."
In a Nov. 12 statement to ChicagoPride.com, Chicago Apartment Finders Director of Property Management Kimberly Carr said, "Chicago Apartment Finders tried to have the Kearney statues conveyed at closing, but the previous owner elected to have them removed. We are aware and sensitive to the concerns from local neighbors and community groups and we are doing everything in our power to have the statues returned to their rightful position."
Carr did not return requests by ChicagoPride.com for comment on the insurance concerns.
Zale commissioned the exquisite giraffe sculptures by Chicagoan John Kearney in 1978 - the goat in 1999 - and permanently installed them on the three corners of Elaine Place. The sculptures became a major attraction for people walking through the neighborhood.
"We were very sad and upset that they couldn't remain where so many people have enjoyed them for so many years," John's wife Lynn Kearney told ChicagoPride.com. "Perhaps some other person or group in the community could buy them and install them in a nearby park."
A spokeswoman for Zale Realty said the sculptures are undergoing minor restoration and repair, yet the future home of the giraffes and goat is unknown.
Kearney's works remain in major museum and collections throughout the U.S., including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Other outdoor works are scattered throughout Chicago, including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scare Crow, Dorothy and Toto in Oz Park and a gorilla in front of the Uptown Hull House.
"John is very pleased that people do care about his work," said Mrs. Kearney.