Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is adorned with an eye-catching, attractive new lady. And what a lady she is! Standing 26 feet tall and weighing some 34,000 pounds, Forever Marilyn, a sculpture by Seward Johnson is one of the most photographed attractions in Chicago.
Based upon the photo by Bernard of Hollywood, Seward Johnson has given great attention to detail. Marilyn is wearing a pair of perfectly fitting white lace panties which are in full view under her wind-blown billowing white skirt. She is wearing spiked heel shoes and standing on a fake subway grate.
And speaking of shoes, Marilyn said, and I quote, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” Well, she is certainly drawing a lot of attention here in Chicago.
The sculpture depicts an iconic scene from Billy Wilder’s 1955 movie “The Seven Year Itch”. In the scene Marilyn’s dress goes flying up as she stands over a New York subway grate leaving her underwear exposed.
Forever Marilyn was unveiled in Chicago on July 15, 2011 and has become a major tourist attraction with many coming from out of town for a photo opportunity. And while Chicago has many other major attractions – such as Anish Kapoor’s “Bean” in Millennium Park, the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, and the Magnificent Mile, which is one of the top ten hospitality, fine dining and retail districts in the world – for now, until she takes her show on the road in the Spring of 2012, Forever Marilyn has them gawking.
The sculpture was built in a studio in New Jersey and brought to Chicago. It is aluminum from the waist up. Below the waist, it is made of stainless steel.
And perhaps it is appropriate that the “Windy City” would feature the sculpture of Marilyn with her dress being blown by the wind. In one of her famous quotes she said “The Body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.” So maybe…just maybe… that’s why Chicago loves Marilyn – Forever Marilyn!