Virginio Ferrari (Being Born)

1983, Stainless steel, H 20 ft.
City of Chicago Public Art Collection, commissioned by
the Tool and Die Industry

LOCATION:
Intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans Sts.
Located at the Ohio Street exit of the Kennedy
Expressway, Being Born serves as a gateway into
Chicago’s downtown. This gateway location is
landscaped and maintained through a unique
partnership between the City of Chicago, the Illinois
Department of Transportation and Chicago Gateway
Green.

Being Born celebrates both art and technology and pays tribute to the industry that commissioned and fabricated it. Sculptor Virginio Ferrari explains, “The circular element symbolizes the precision and skill of this industry. The two stainless steel elements fit exactly into each other, symbolizing the process of die making.” The openness of the outer circle suggests that the industry continues to grow. Supporting the steel sculpture is a round granite base concealing a water mechanism that releases a continuous flow of water over a central surface that acts as a reflecting pool.