After going into hibernation for the past couple of months, Art on theMART returns in March with a flashy new collaboration. The stunning lights show will spotlight the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre with a multi-part piece by lighting designer John Boesche that highlights seven Chicago theater artists with short solo performances. The special installation, entitled 7 soliloquies, debuts on Wednesday, March 13.
If you didn't catch Art on theMART when it premiered last fall, the 25-story display takes over one side of the Merchandise Mart, filling the building's historic facade with vibrant colors and moving images. Onlookers can catch the technicolored spectacle from the Riverwalk or bridges that pass over the waterway.
"Art on theMART brings Chicago’s legacy of public art and iconic architecture together and helps reshape the way people interact with the Chicago River," says outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a press release. "It is a fitting tribute to align the 2019 programming with the Year of Chicago Theatre; bringing new energy to the Riverwalk and honoring the cultural and artistic diversity that theater adds to our city."
The 2019 debut, 7 soliloquies, features performers, well-known composers, sound designers, puppeteers and other artists from Chicago's vibrant theater community. Shows run on a two-hour loop Wednesday through Sunday and start approximately 15 minutes after sunset. Come June, look out for a piece by scenic designer John Musial and Lucky Plush artistic director Julia Rhoads that combines dance and theater.