Even before then unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, cities around the country were grappling with controversies over monuments that celebrate Columbus, Confederate leaders and other historical figures. Some have been marked with graffiti. Others have been pulled down.
Activists have urged that public art do a better job of representing a broad spectrum of American life, something the mayor says Chicago will accomplish.
As part of that, city officials said the Chicago Monuments Project seeks ideas from individual artists and community groups "for development of new monuments that rethink the place, purpose and permanence of monuments in our public places."
Throughout America, activists have criticized cities for not honoring women and people of color. In Chicago, women and minorities aren't altogether absent from the city's public art, but they are underrepresented.
--Cooter
