"The Four Seasons" is a large mosaic piece of artwork which was designed and installed by Russian-French Artist Marc Chagall in 1974. It is a permanent exhibition located outdoors in the Chase Plaza also known as the Exelon Plaza in Chicago's downtown Loop area. Its characteristic symbolism used by Mr. Chagall is featured throughout the panels of the mosaics which includes: lovers, musicians, animals such as donkeys and goats and a sailboat made of a large fish. As being from the Jewish faith, Mr. Chagall often uses goats as symbolism of sacrifice and musicians as a symbolism of his early childhood learning to play the violin and its symbolism of happiness and music unifying people. (See an interview with Artist Marc Chagall about this at: www.itcdeganutti.org/attivita/modulo%20clil%20arte/chagall.doc )
The colored glass and stone which compose the mosaic were sourced from Israel, Belgium, Norway, Italy, and France.
The Artist Statement about "The Four Seasons":
"I chose the theme of the four seasons because I believe there will be many people going through this plaza in the heart of the city of Chicago. In my mind, the four seasons represent human life, both physical and spiritual, at its different stages. I hope that the people of Chicago will feel the same emotion that I felt when doing this work." This statement is sourced from a thirty minute documentary film that was made about the history, construction and installation of Marc Chagall's Four Seasons and is available on-line (for free) it is titled: "The Monumental Art of Marc Chagall." The film was directed by Chuck Olin an Emmy-award winning director and producer of documentary films including this one about Marc Chagall's "Four Seasons" in Chicago.
http://mediaburn.org/video/the-monumental-art-of-marc-chagall/
"The Four Seasons" mosaic by artist Marc Chagall is another example of phenomenal public art gifted to the citizens of Chicago by investor Frederick H. Prince through the Prince Charitable Trusts. It was dedicated in 1974 and it was restored in 1994 which included the addition of a protective glass overhanging canopy.
Mr. Chagall has had a number of previous exhibitions in recent years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2011-"Paris Through the Window: Marc Chagall and His Circle") and Montreal, Canada (2017-"Chagall: Color and Music").
He currently has an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California. The Chagall exhibit is titled: "Fantasies for the Stage" and is on view from July 31, 2017-January 7, 2018.
See:
http://www.lacma.org/chagall#landing
FYI-
"Four Seasons" is located in the Exelon Plaza-it IS Wheelchair Accessible....
A slide show is also available for individuals to view on line:
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-theology-art/2013/02/slideshow-marc-chagalls-four-seasons-in-chicago/#image/1
"American Windows" by Marc Chagall is also on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. read more