America’s Courtyard

America’s Courtyard, 1998

Denise Milan and Ary Perez

Northerly Island

South of the Adler Planetarium                      

1300 South Lake Shore Drive

As part of the City of Chicago Public Art Collection, this work was originally installed near the Art Institute, but was relocated in December 2000.  In this location, the stone elements are configured to resemble a spiral galaxy and symbolizes an ancient celestial observatory. Astronomer Phyllis Pitluga helped the artists arrange the 56 granite pieces and four pieces of marble to create four pathways in a representation of the sun’s passage during the seasonal solstices. The spaces between the four stones align with the north-south and east-west compass points.