Hungry flames from The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 rapidly destroyed thousands of buildings, showing no mercy as the vicious intruder left hundreds dead. Despite the devastating tragedy that stretched nearly four miles from the fire’s place of origin, the city pulled together and quickly began to rebuild. That unity and perseverance is what Chicago is celebrating on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Redmoon, Chicago’s theater company, has the reputation of creating “Spectacle Art.” The 24-year-old company has partnered with Chicago’s department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Park District to create the first inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival. The event will begin at 3 p.m. along the River Bazaar, which is a new riverfront the city recently developed. This is where 15 neighborhoods like Bronzeville, Englewood, North Lawdale, Austin, Pilsen, Uptown will be featured. Each community will have a designated area with two kiosks. Patrons will be able to purchase crafts, goods and food. Photos were also taken of community members during the summer by Redmoon’s Mobil Photo Factory and designed by renowned photographer Sandro Miller. Her work will be showcased at the event.
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Michelle Boone said that one of the city’s goals is to extend cultural reach into the community.
“When we had community conversations, the residents wanted to have cultural experiences in their own neighborhoods,” she said.
After looking at the artwork, attendees can visit one of two stages, where local musicians, poets and dancers will perform, leading up to the big finale. The Sonic Boom music stage, 435 N. Michigan Ave., will feature music and poetry. The second stage, 330 N. Wabash Ave., will feature some of Chicago’s hip-hop, breaking and footworking crews, who will participate in a dance battle. Attendance is free for all performances.
The main event kicks off at 8p.m. with Grand Marshals Jesse Spencer and Taylor from the NBC drama “Chicago Fire” lighting the cauldron on the Michigan Avenue Bridge. It will be lowered unto a watercraft below. A total of 15 fire cauldrons will be lighted. The Chicago Children’s Chorus will perform as a steamboat sails along the river, accompanied by three miniature boats. When they reach platforms in the river, which will hold house sculptures that resemble those from the era, each steamboat will signal for the fire ritual to begin. The sculptures will catch fire.
There will be fireworks and as the performance comes to a close, boats will show Miller’s photos from each of the represented communities on 15 large projection screens. The photos will show community residents celebrating their idea of Chicago’s identity today.
Jim Lasko, executive artistic director of Redmoon, said everything that was done leading up to this event brought communities together in a positive way. He said that most people are probably tired of hearing about the city’s violence and want to see something positive.
“I hope that part of what we’re doing is showing that there are other stories and amazing people in these communities,” he said.
Boone said the festival will bring together the city. Not only that, but the event will help promote tourism, she said. Local hotels are already filling up with from people as far as the United Kingdom, said Boone.
The Great Chicago Fire Festival is in partnership with The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and The Chicago Park District, and presented by BMO Harris Bank, The Illinois Office of Tourism, and The Pritzker Foundation, with partnering sponsorship support from The Boeing Company, Allstate Insurance Corporation and Digitas, LBI. Support also comes from The Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, The Cookie Jar Foundation, David and Suzu Neithercut, The Polk Bros. Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Weber Stephen, LLC and a grant from ArtPlace America, a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies accelerating creative placemaking across the US.
For more information visit the website at www.Redmoon.org.
