Conversations; Here and Now presents a central space that’s empty, yet full of possibility and the potential for dialog and understanding, a space created by a circular arrangement of eight chairs each of which is intricately carved with words and symbols that are the result of community conversations representative of Evanston’s rich history, its diverse customs and ethnicities, its creative energy and its collective hopes and dreams as recognized by its residents. Chairs, objects that we are intimately familiar with become vehicles of communication, bridging differences and allowing common goals and concerns to flourish.

Conversations; Here and Now creates a space for speaking, a city wide civic conversation with residents whose voices are not often heard, people of different ages with divergent viewpoints and diverse cultural histories. The chairs of Conversations; Here and Now are traditional and non traditional, use feet and hands, roots and wings and a variety of symbols to depict the vast array of connections that exist between us.

Conversations; Here and Now consists of seven cast bronze chairs varying in height from 4-5 feet, placed on a 6” raised cement platform containing a spiral pattern of bronze inlays. The chairs and inlays are being created in wax, which will be cast in bronze at the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington State.

Community input continues to be the foundation for the physical and metaphorical aspects of Conversations; Here and Now, contributing to it eventually becoming an Evanston landmark a meeting place in the heart of downtown Evanston. Situated in Raymond Park on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Grove, it will engage viewers in different ways at different times allowing for random interaction and discovery. Chairs, familiar to every society are transformed in this work into potent symbols of communication that honor community voices and interactions and visually entrance viewers so they too become participants in this community conversation.

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