K International, Inc.
DuSable
Park Project
"Signature in Time"
Defining Our Design, of DuSable Park, Chicago, Illinois
In his book, The Paradox of Time, Austin Dobson wrote; "Times goes, we stay, but alas, time remains, we go".
Located at all three entries to the park will be a modest limestone relief done in the likeness of DuSable with the words Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, 1745-1818, accompanied by a bronze plaque giving a brief history of Mr. DuSable and ending with; "DuSable Park, founded 1772, established 2001.
Access the
park at the north and south ground level entrances or, if one prefers,
enter at lower Lake Shore Drive's center entrance where one can experience
Chicago's signature in time.
At the threshold of this center entry will be an additional DuSable symbol,
two simple moccasin imprints. It was near here DuSable once stood, made
his decision to stay and leave his signature, Chicago's beginning.
So now begins a journey of time through the vision of design, beginning with deconstructivism. A disorder of metal, course, uneven, concrete all made to represent the difficult and harsh place our Chicago must have been for it's first settler, DuSable.
Moving forward deconstructivism begins to recede and soften and images appear to expand, only to be suddenly interrupted by more diverse deconstructivism, symbolizing the chaos Chicago experienced during, and after, the Great Fire of 1871.
Once again the coherency grows, the surfaces become more finished and smooth, the raw metal gives way to flowing forms, unity and harmony, all with use of more constructivism design and all quit rapidly, like our Chicago.
Amongst the strength and protection of these shapes and symbols lay the real heart of Chicago, our all important people, symbolized by a large bed of forever blooming bright yellow flowers all with fine, yet strong, stainless stems.
The paved area, with its strips of soft green grass, represents the crossroads of Chicago, not only of travel and commerce, but of vision, a vision of Chicago's past and our people crossing time and history. This area, covered with original Chicago pavers, will be the ideal home to permanent or traveling works of art.
On the south side of the park will stand the fountain. Like a magnet it pulls us with its high, looping form, reflecting another irresistible lure, Chicago's natural center, the Loop, "Downtown".
Similar to our brilliant city, now and in the future, indirect and reflective lighting will play a most important roll, subdued in the beginning and increasing as one nears the fountain. The fountain will be designed to not push the water with force, but allow it to flow naturally, following the curved concrete forms and returning it to its source, Lake Michigan.
K International, Inc.
Patrick T.
King, McHenry, Illinois
Michael Reva, Odessa, Ukraine
Serge Seredny, Odessa, Ukraine
"Signature in Time" Design Credits:
Design/Graphic
Art: Denis Byelyenco of Odessa, Ukraine byelyenco@ukr.net
Photography
and Design Coordinator: Patrick T. King, McHenry, Illinois
patrick@kii-usa.com
Special
Thanks to: Citizens Democracy Corps located in Washington, DC and
Odessa, Ukraine
All Images
and design rights are reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission
from K International, Inc. U.S.A.