The Chicago Monuments Project, an initiative by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), put out a call for proposals for monuments that “rethink the place, purpose and permanence of monuments in our public spaces” with a deadline of April 1; meanwhile, Chicago Torture Justice Memorials (CTJM) is working towards the final piece of a 2015 reparations ordinance — a memorial for the over 100 Black men and women tortured by disgraced Chicago police commander Jon Burge.
CTJM’s proposed memorial is the work of artist Patricia Nguyen and architectural designer John Lee. Titled “Breath, Form and Freedom,” it combines data collection with a curatorial process that involved contributions from survivors and communities affected by torture and violence within the Chicago Police Department’s legacy.
While DCASE is accepting memorial proposals from the general public, CTJM is hoping to flood the city’s submission with requests “Breath, Form and Freedom.” Here are the steps to take action:
- Open DCASE’s online application
- Go here to CTJM’s google template that contains answers regarding CTJM’s bio and memorial overview
- Complete the form by filling in the personal details at the top of the DCASE form (in pink on the template) and either: 1.) cut/paste provided CTJM responses OR 2.) create your own answers and provide examples of your past work OR 3.) a combination of the two.
