“a murmuration” at O’Hare Terminal 5

From the Archive: “a murmuration” by Jina Valentine, O'Hare International Airport, Terminal 5.

The zinc plated steel frame is the physical backbone to this network of discs just as its material represents the network of a greater history between immigration and industry in Chicago.

  In 1857, Chicago opened its first steel mill, becoming a major contributor to the production of steel in the country. As this newfound industry developed, an influx of European immigrants came to Chicago looking for work. A bond between the city’s steel industry and its immigrants continued for over a hundred years as different demographics of people immigrated to Chicago. In the 1980’s the industry began to shutter- by the early 2000’s almost every mill was closed. Though the industry which once supported thousands of people was gone, the immigrants which supported it stayed. These steel mills now lay abandoned, as monuments of the city’s industry carried by immigration. “a murmuration” recasts this reality into something of hope. On display in one of the country’s major airports, it has secured itself as a major player of Chicago's public art. 

A sprawl of 600 anodized convex aluminum discs, mounted to a larger network of steel. All varying in size and color respective to a code visualized from over 100 years of demographics information. Each color corresponds to a specific continent creating an actualized(tangible) diagram of diversity.  Pioneer Metal Finishing helped develop a precise engraving technique for 80 of the discs, incorporating community-contributed phrases that reflect themes of home, welcome, and community in various languages.