CTA Unveils Interactive Artwork at Damen Blue Line
The Chicago Transit Authority has unveiled new, interactive public artwork at the Damen Blue Line station, the latest CTA station to receive unique artwork as part of Mayor Emanuel’s initiative to expand public art across CTA bus and rail facilities throughout the City of Chicago.
“By incorporating creative artwork into our CTA stations, we are elevating the experience of Chicago’s world-class transit system,” Mayor Emanuel said. “This new installation reflects the neighborhood’s vibrancy and creative spirit and is a fitting finish to this historic station modernization.”
Commissioned by the award-winning artist team of Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues, the new one-of-a-kind artwork at Damen serves as the finishing touch to a major station renovation in 2014 as part of the historic $492 million Your New Blue (YNB) O’Hare branch modernization project.
The artwork, known as Soundtrack, is installed on the north side of the track structure and visible from Damen Avenue, includes LED color panels that create patterns of light, activated by sound as well as vibrations caused by moving trains, cars and riders walking along the station platform. The artwork contains sensors that “read” the vibrations and translate them into the lighted patterns.
“Artwork at CTA stations is intended to be reflective of the communities they serve, and the new artwork at Damen literally captures the vibe of this lively community,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said. “The addition of this impressive, interactive artwork to CTA’s permanent collection of public art is truly exciting, and I encourage Chicagoans to come see and experience this living artwork for themselves.”
Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel, CTA’s collection of public art has nearly doubled since 2011 to nearly 70 works of art across all eight rail lines. It includes mosaics, art glass and sculptures created by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, many of whom are local. Over the next few years, CTA’s public art collection will further expand to include an additional nine new works of art.
Constructed in 1895, the Damen Station underwent a $13.6 million stationhouse and platform rehabilitation as part of Your New Blue that modernized and expanded the station.
Mayor Emanuel and CTA in 2013 announced Your New Blue, the most ambitious service improvement project on the Blue Line since it was extended to O'Hare Airport in 1984. The program will benefit the more than 80,000 customers who each weekday use stations along the branch, which had more than 27 million rides last year. Under this program, CTA will update a total of 14 Blue Line stations; make elevated and subway infrastructure upgrades; track signal improvements and traction power upgrades.
