May 6- Time Did Dwindle for the Spindle
No doubt you have seen or heard the news by now- the classic car kabob that stood proudly at Harlem and Cermak in Berwyn is no more. Under cover of darkness, or pretty near that, just like Mayor Daley closing down the Meigs Field airport, a crew took down “the Spindle” sculpture on Friday night! (No doubt because they knew I’d be busy elsewhere, at the Silver Circle presentation for my boss, Neal Sabin!)
So- the Spindle, which stood tall in the shopping center parking lot since 1989, went the way of the “Garbage Sculpture” that stood at the entry to the parking lot off Harlem. They used a crane (not Fraiser) to remove the topmost car- the little red Volkswagen- and the second car, a silver 1976 BMW, which supposedly had been property of the guy who used to own the shopping center- to place them in storage, reportedly to be used in a new sculpture- but I wouldn’t hold my breath to see that completed. Then, a large machine gripped the sculpture, and knocked it to the ground. The remains were placed in a large dumpster, and all that was left was a small section of the pole that the cars rested on.
This was all done so they could build a freestanding Walgreens with a drive-through on that space. Never mind that there’s a Walgreens that’s been right at the end of the strip of stores forever, which actually has space behind it they could route a drive-through lane past. Never mind that there’s a huge empty store area right in the middle of the strip, formerly occupied by an old Service Merchandise (how long has THAT sat empty?)
The shopping center originally had all sorts of pieces of unique art in it, as was the wish of the former owner- the afore-mentioned “junk sculpture”- and several other pieces, including a really cool “clock” that would drop ball bearings down a track, which would then hit various noisemakers and objects- a real “MouseTrap” or Rube Goldberg invention. There was a small forest of magnetic “trees” that would move to various kinds of music. There were big metal “drums’ you could play, and a “Silver Surfer” looking sculpture with mirrors all over it-and many more, all very hands-on.
The Berwyn powers-that-be feel that kept the suburb from being more “upscale?!” Hmmm- avante gard art isn’t upscale?
A piece of art that drew tourists because it had been in a famous movie wasn’t worth it?
Oh, I’m sure that removing “the Spindle” will have that Service Merchandise storefront full in no time- same for the empty Walgreens they’ll have on the end of the strip once they build their new one. Maybe it can be a new headquarters for the Berwyn political machine of Judy Baar Topinka…
So- the Spindle, which stood tall in the shopping center parking lot since 1989, went the way of the “Garbage Sculpture” that stood at the entry to the parking lot off Harlem. They used a crane (not Fraiser) to remove the topmost car- the little red Volkswagen- and the second car, a silver 1976 BMW, which supposedly had been property of the guy who used to own the shopping center- to place them in storage, reportedly to be used in a new sculpture- but I wouldn’t hold my breath to see that completed. Then, a large machine gripped the sculpture, and knocked it to the ground. The remains were placed in a large dumpster, and all that was left was a small section of the pole that the cars rested on.
This was all done so they could build a freestanding Walgreens with a drive-through on that space. Never mind that there’s a Walgreens that’s been right at the end of the strip of stores forever, which actually has space behind it they could route a drive-through lane past. Never mind that there’s a huge empty store area right in the middle of the strip, formerly occupied by an old Service Merchandise (how long has THAT sat empty?)
The shopping center originally had all sorts of pieces of unique art in it, as was the wish of the former owner- the afore-mentioned “junk sculpture”- and several other pieces, including a really cool “clock” that would drop ball bearings down a track, which would then hit various noisemakers and objects- a real “MouseTrap” or Rube Goldberg invention. There was a small forest of magnetic “trees” that would move to various kinds of music. There were big metal “drums’ you could play, and a “Silver Surfer” looking sculpture with mirrors all over it-and many more, all very hands-on.
The Berwyn powers-that-be feel that kept the suburb from being more “upscale?!” Hmmm- avante gard art isn’t upscale?
A piece of art that drew tourists because it had been in a famous movie wasn’t worth it?
Oh, I’m sure that removing “the Spindle” will have that Service Merchandise storefront full in no time- same for the empty Walgreens they’ll have on the end of the strip once they build their new one. Maybe it can be a new headquarters for the Berwyn political machine of Judy Baar Topinka…
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So what does this mean for the playfully mocking "BERWYN?!" sound effect? Will it continue, but with a vengeance, or will you simply refuse to dignify such politicians who will not go to bat for non-traditional art?
Oh you hit the nail on the head Svev. Now they will have two of their largest stores empty. The place was so much nicer with all the strange art. It was fun, and that's always a good thing. It seems like this shopping center is dying off, as is much of cermak roads businesses. Just east of the plaza is a full block that has been vacant for quite a few years now. Maybe the new drive-up window will make things all better.