Greektown is alive with new fish art and we’re hooked!
A vibrant school of 22 fanciful fish has settled in Chicago’s Greektown as part of a public art project that aims to call attention to the need to protect our waters.
As a nation with thousands of islands, fish has been an essential food source for Greeks for millennia and the project also pays homage to ancient Greek culture. Characters from ancient Greek mythology and seaside vistas can be seen on the new sculptures as well as the Greek language and other languages from all over the world.
The 22 fish have each been painted on both sides by a diverse mix of professional and emerging artists as well as Greek School students and teachers. Each fish is unique with a different name, artist, title, and location, though all 22 fish are located along Halsted Street from Monroe to Van Buren Streets.
The sculptures can be seen outside popular Greektown shops, bars, and restaurants where they will be delighting visitors all summer long. One of the colorful fish sculptures, titled Goldie Gives Gratitude, has been placed nearby Rush University Medical Center to say thanks to its healthcare heroes and staff for their tireless efforts during the pandemic.
The Greektown Arts Committee partnered with the Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation to organize the creation of the project which was sponsored by Greektown SSA #16, the neighborhood’s business improvement district.
“Our Fanciful Fish public art exhibit is a safe outdoor activity people can enjoy as they stroll through Greektown. The inspiration for the fish sculptures came from Greek culture and geography, water conservation, and the fish-forward Mediterranean diet” said Greektown SSA #16 Commissioner Eve Moran.
The Greek schools that participated were St. Demetrios SOLON Greek School of Chicago, Holy Wisdom Academy, Pythagoras Greek School of St. John the Baptist, Koraes Elementary School, Greek School Pythagoras of Elmhurst, and St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago.