Friday, May 23, 2008

The Spindle, 1989-2008.



Score one for the Philistines.

Three weeks ago tonight, The Spindle was demolished.

"The Spindle" was a sculpture by Dustin Shuler. It was erected in 1989 in the middle of the Berwyn Plaza Shopping Center parking lot. The piece consisted of eight actual, full size automobiles seemingly stacked on a tall, silver spindle.

Last July it was reported that the shopping center, which is located just east of the intersection of Harlem and Cermak in Berwyn, Illinois, was showing its age and wanted to revitalize itself, in part by removing the sculpture and developing that space commercially. Their stated intention then was to scrap the work, but they made the announcement and waited almost a year to see if anyone would come forward to save it.

No one did.

Last summer, I drove down there and took a few pictures. Click here to watch the slide show. (The slide show will open in a new window. When you are finished watching, just close the window to return here.)

Perhaps the kiss of death for it as a serious work of art is the fact that it was best known for a brief appearance in the movie "Wayne's World."

(NOTE: 5/1/2021. The slide show is no longer available.)

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