Wabash Lights art project begins $1 million fundraiser

The creators behind the Wabash Lights art installation have returned with a new fundraising goal to get their multicolored public art project off the ground.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign and beta installation, filmmaker Jack Newell and design strategist Seth Unger are seeking between $750,000 and $1 million to pay for equipment, labor, and maintenance, a mobile app and extension, according to Loop North News. They don’t have a kickstarter campaign set up now, but you can make a donation on the Wabash Lights’ website.

The proposed plan for the public art calls for a 600 LED lights to be fixed below the CTA train tracks on Wabash Avenue. The stream of lights can even be controlled by people who download an app connected to the art.

Recently, the city announced a plan to expand resources, programs and support for the creation of public art in 2018. The Wabash Lights project has received support from a number of city resources including the CTA, alderman, DCASE and community members.

In the initial Kickstarter campaign, Wabash Lights raised $59,480 from 918 people and received $25,000 from Comcast to pay for a test installation. For comparison, Millennium’s Park Cloud Gate cost $23 million, Newel told Loop North News.

• Five Questions for Wabash Lights Co-Creators Seth Unger and Jack Newell [Curbed Chicago]
• Donate to the Wabash Lights art project [Wabash Lights]
• Art project seeks $750,000 to light up Wabash [Loop North]