Chicago's Picasso sculpture celebrates 50th anniversary

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of Chicago's most iconic public pieces of art is getting ready for its gold anniversary. The Chicago Picasso sculpture was unveiled on August 15, 1967. It's considered to be artist Pablo Picasso's first large-scale civic sculpture in America. The world-renowned sculpture stands 50 feet tall on a base of granite and is constructed of the same Cor-Ten steel as the building behind it. In the 1960s, at the request of William Hartmann, Senior Partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), Picasso designed the monumental artwork to relate to the Civic Center on what is known today as Daley Plaza.

To celebrate the Chicago Picasso's 50th anniversary, art historian and author Patricia Balton Stratton created a full-color coffee-table book telling the sculpture's story. "The Chicago Picasso: A Point of Departure" features never before published photographs and illustrations, as well as extensive interviews. Patricia Balton Stratton is also hosting a panel discussion about her book on August 15, 2017 at the Harold Washington Library. The event is from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and is free for everyone to attend. The program is presented as part of the City of Chicago's 2017 Year of Public Art. Patricia sat down with ABC 7 Eyewitness News to talk about the history of the Chicago Picasso and her new book.

Event: The Chicago Picasso: A Point of Departure Panel Discussion

Date: August 15, 2017

Hours: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Address: Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street, Chicago

Admission/ Ticket Prices: Free

Link: www.chicagopicasso.com/