John Massey’s Banners Return to Downtown Chicago
50 years ago, a series of vibrant, geometric banners by designer John Massey went up along Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Loop.
In August 2018, the Design Museum of Chicago, in partnership with Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation (CLAF) and the Terra Foundation for American Art, brought them back to State Street as part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth. Titled The Shape of Chicago: John Massey’s 1968 Banners Revisited, the initiative also coincided with Art Design Chicago, a spirited year-long celebration of Chicago’s art and design legacy spearheaded by the Terra Foundation. The banners hung hang along State Street between Lake and Congress Parkway through the end of August.
The Shape of Chicago
with John Massey
Three Shapes &
Three Colors
A tribute to Massey’s immense impact on design in Chicago, the banners represent more than just a nod to the city’s history — they represent Chicago’s continued investment in the arts and design. John Massey is a legend in Chicago’s history of design, particularly in the public sphere. Art Design Chicago captured a wonderful interview with Massey where he talks about his original banners, as well as his legacy as one of Chicago’s most legendary designers.
Working With Students
As part of this collaboration, the Design Museum worked with Chicago Public School students to make planter signs and recordings inspired by Massey’s work. Fourth graders in Farrah Blakes’s Philip D. Armour Elementary School in Bridgeport used grids, primary colors, and circles, squares, and triangles like Massey to abstractly design their favorite things in Chicago. They also made a recording describing their favorite things that played through the Lightscape sculptures. The results were incredible!
The student artworks appeared the full length of State Street, responding to, complimenting, and supplementing the Massey banners.
The students and their families were thrilled to see their work and words represented in the Loop, and we have continued to work with Armour School students on other projects that bring their art and design to broad audiences, including Great Ideas of Humanity: Passing the Torch.
This project hit the sweet spot of Chicago design history and contemporary design efforts, collaboration between a number of organizations working to bring art and design to the public’s attention, and an opportunity to inspire students through design.