Kara James

Respite
Columbus Park
2021

Please Save the Birds—Thank You
Olympia Park
2016

Lead with the Heart
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park (North Simonds Drive, south of Foster Beach)
2013

Respite, 2021
Columbus Park

Respite in Columbus Park intends a moment of comfort from the post-2020 world for the viewer. The protected space held at the base of the tree is a symbolic place to unburden confusion. The sentiment is sibling to the heart-headed tree sculptures “Lead with The Heart” in Lincoln Park.
Please Save the Birds — Thank You2016
Olympia Park

Please Save the Birds—Thank You was created in recognition of the dire need of the plight of flight, a tiny symbolic and functional shelter for the continuously collaterally damaged bird population. The author of words on the back of the sculpture is unknown (some people attribute them to Leonardo da Vinci), but before he left us, Mike Lanphere told us about them, and this is his tree.  I hope everyone who walks by this tree could know how appropriate it is that the tree stands in a sports-centric park of fun, directly under the O’Hare flight path. I hope every kid playing a game in this park gets to feel the heroic spirit—like a bird floating down from the bird house and whispering confidence in their little ears, a legacy of flight: for birds, bats and balls, boards and pucks, and people flying down mountains to know the forever importance of being here, and to save the birds, thanks.

 

Lead with the Heart2013
Lincoln Park (North Simonds Drive, south of Foster Beach)


Lead with the Heart was created with heart-heads and hands clasped in earnest, as a stealth marketing campaign to promote love and gratitude as a priority and solution.