Join Chicago Design Museum, the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation, and the Terra Foundation for American Art at the launch celebration for The Shape of Chicago: John Massey’s 1968 Banners Revisited.

In 1968, renowned Chicago designer John Massey created a set of ultra-graphic, geometrically powerful banners that hung in downtown Chicago. Marking the 50th anniversary of this remarkable public design project and celebrating Massey’s legacy, the banners will be reproduced and displayed on State Street this August.

As part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, Chicago Public School students embarked on a project to think about art, design and public space through the lens of Massey’s work. Using the design language of Massey’s historic 1968 banners, students created art that represents what they love about Chicago to be showcased on State Street in planter boxes under replications of Massey’s original work. Students also created audio tracks discussing the inspiration for their designs, which will be played over Chicago Loop Alliance’s Lightscape, a multisensory light and sound installation located in planter boxes along State Street.

The launch event will include light drinks and hors d’oeuvres, as well as remarks from the initiative’s partner organizations. There will also be a short screening of a never-before-seen interview with John Massey.

The Shape of Chicago is presented as part of Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art exploring Chicago’s art and design legacy, with presenting partner The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.