Flight, thanks for the links.
Chris, thanks, I voted. Almost 77% in favor of the Spindle. Fortunately, the mayor is in favor of the Spindle, so he won't be asking for 100% voting turnout or claiming that the majority was duped by the lies of a cynical opposition, and so on!
http://www.chicagosuburbannews.com/riverside/homepage/x53162438
State politicians jump on board to save Spindle
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By Cari Brokamp
Berwyn Life
Thu Jul 19, 2007, 09:44 AM CDT
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Berwyn, IL -
State lawmakers have now joined in the fight to save Berwyn's landmark “Spindle,— slated to come down by the end of the year.
State Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-12th District, of Cicero filed a resolution in the Senate Wednesday that encourages the city and Cermak Plaza's management company to find a way to keep the “Spindle— in Berwyn permanently.
“It represents part of the architectural landscape of the state of Illinois, as now represented in many of our official Illinois tourism posters,— Sandoval said. “It's synonymous with the landscape of Berwyn and the architectural and cultural spirit of the people of the region. It's caught so much attention and is worth preserving.—
Opponents of the “Spindle— say the eight-cars impaled on a metal spike is an eyesore more than anything else. Having stood in heart of the shopping center for nearly two decades, the art has deteriorated and is covered in bird waste and rust.
Sandoval said, however, it's those things that give it character.
“Architecture and landmarks become even more valuable to our communities as they show the wear of weather and decay of age,— he said. “Those comments about bird droppings and decay can be said about the Picasso in Chicago, or the Lincoln Memorial in Springfield, and we don't get rid of those.—
The resolution was referred to the rules committee on Wednesday, where it will go before being discussed on Senate floor, Sandoval said. He said state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-24th District, of Cicero plans to file a similar resolution in the House, and that he expects the support of their colleagues.
Meanwhile, residents have gotten involved in the cause, planning a party in support of the sculpture.
Berwyn resident Maggie Ragaisis is hosting a party in support of the “Spindle,— scheduled for Friday night at Garv Inn, 6546 Windsor Ave. The party goes from 8 to 10:30 p.m., with free entry and the entertainment of singer John Eddie and his band. The party will not be a fundraiser, but is hoped to gain support for preserving the art.
“We're just trying to raise community and area awareness about our goals to keep the —˜Spindle' in Berwyn,— Ragaisis said. “I saw the story and knew there had to be a way to keep the —˜Spindle.' We all want to see it stay in town, and I'm excited to see how many people do care and show up.—
Ragaisis said representatives from the Berwyn Arts Council and Berwyn Main Street program, which is working to revitalize Cermak Road, will be at the party. “Save the Spindle— T-shirts will also be available, as well as petitions to sign in support of keeping the art in the city.
I was leaving the Mall the other day and a photographer was shooting some shots of The Spindle from a low angle so that it would appear to be in the palm of somebody's hand. Maybe we could trade that little roof on the VC tower that we are getting and they could use it like one of those folding umbrellas you get in a Singapore Sling at a poynesian restaurant. I'd rather have the spindle.
On Saturday, I bought a couple of Tshirts from a guy hawking them from the base of the spindle. Neat looking graphic with a picture of the spindle in the middle and the words ' save the spindle ' along the left and right sides in a folk art letters.
Showing the tshirt spreads the word to others. And, also, he said (some) proceeds will go to the save the spindle fund. He had these big shades and his car next to him was playing Led Zeppelin. COOL.
I think he said he'll be around there some more, so check it out.
I hear the artist was on NPR saying the sign was meant to or should be electrified to keep the pigeons off it. Anyway, you have to actually inhale them for it to be harmful. I'm glad Cicero is, once again, doing something about it. (One of their reps is also trying to close a TIF loophole.)
For years and years the same kind of people whined about the Picasso, the Miro, the Calder and so on in Chicago. Perhaps people don't complain about the Bean because they can see their reflections in it.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/487640,CST-NWS-berwyn28.article#
Bikers back Spindle
BERWYN ICON | 2,000 hit streets hoping to keep famed car stack standing
July 28, 2007
BY DAVE NEWBART AND NORMAN PARISH Staff Reporters/dnewbart@suntimes.com nparish@suntimes.com
Chanting "Save the Spindle," about 2,000 bicyclists took to the streets Friday night to protest the proposed replacement of a Berwyn art piece -- made famous in a "Wayne's World" movie -- with a Walgreens.
The bikers, who typically take part in the monthly Chicago Critical Mass rides, rode 14.8 miles from the Daley Center Plaza in the Loop to Cermak Plaza in Berwyn, in an attempt to save the endangered Spindle artwork, also known as the Eight Car Pileup.
"A trip to the Spindle is a bike ride that a lot of us have made," said Dan Korn, a 36-year-old Little Village resident who has participated in Critical Mass rides for years. "So many of us didn't mind using this ride to support the Spindle today. The Spindle is a metaphor to me of the car or perhaps the end of the car. There are a lot of riders who advocate against over-car usage."
Riders cruised through neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, and through Cicero, passing spectators shouting support like, "Happy Friday," as well as some motorists who were angry because they blocked streets.
Once at the Berwyn plaza, riders repeatedly circled the Spindle, chanting, "Save the Spindle."
"This is the great kitsch monument of Chicago," said Garth Catner, 46, of Lincoln Square, after completing the hike with a replica of the Spindle on his helmet with a large nail and matchbox car.
"This gives the town character,'' Kit Shelton, 24, of Berwyn, maintained. "It is going to make Berwyn lose its personality if it is knocked down."
The Spindle attracted attention when it appeared in the 1992 movie "Wayne's World," starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth, a couple of weird rock 'n' roll afficionados. The Spindle also is now touted in several travel guides, including one listing it under "Road Cheese."
There's a possibility the Spindle could be moved to another location, but Concordia Realty, the strip mall's management firm, estimates costs could be as much as $350,000. Concordia now is considering whether the Spindle can be relocated for a lower cost.
"We are all for artwork, but at the same time, we are running a business," said Concordia owner Michael Flight.
Flight added that the piece would need repair work soon because the artwork, created in 1989 by Dustin Shuler, might become unsafe. Upkeep costs are estimated at $100,000, he said.
"The last thing that we need is a new Walgreens," said Josh Tammaro, a 23-year-old Lincoln Park resident. "This is corporate piracy."
Only 40 Years old today! I personally cannot imagine Chicago without it. AND, Chicago apparently had a hissy fit when it was erected!
The Spindle is no different, just different. Get it? It has become part of the fabric. Don't cut a whole in the fabric!
That's Kabul, Picasso's Afghan hound. It's made of Cor-Ten steel like the Daley Center, and people screamed about erecting a "rusty" building. That shows what anyone creative is up against.
Tiger O'Stylies and Old Style
Invite you to the
Save the Spindle Fundraiser Party
Friday, August 31
7 - 10 PM
Tiger O'Stylies Public House
6300 West Ogden
Berwyn, IL
Music by Berwyn's own Hip Hop Artists, Stereotypes
Hosted by WIND AM Radio's Cisco Cotto
Be there and help raise funds to
Save the Spindle
$10 suggested donation
anyone go to the party noted above? i was out of town unfortunately. anyone know of contact info so that I may make a donation?
I saw that walgreens said that they had no compelling reason to move the spindle. how about a show of good faith and an affirmation of something bigger than themselves? that piece of art says so much that words have difficulty expressing.
"the car spindle as a modern day totem. a reminder of the waste of conspicuous consumption. is this what we want to do for our children"
I process so many pictures at that walgreens that i have remarked in the past many a time that I easily put mr and mrs walgreen's children through college, at least paid their board. The clerks there know our phone number and have joked that we should get a corporate acct.
And, I heard that the artist is being intransigant too, and will not allow its image to be commercialized. mr shuler-- who you crapping! save art. it is bigger than you, too, schu!
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