FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2002	Contact: Barb Guttmann 773-327-9111
	Elizabeth Castro 312-573-5506
	email: info@lpcai.org

CHICAGO – Alderman Vi Daley (43^rd) was joined by representatives of the Lincoln Park business and residential community and the City of Chicago to jury entries for the first Lincoln Park Community Art Initiative (LPCAI), an annual community sculpture competition and exhibition. Eight works by respected area sculptors were chosen today to be exhibited in various public locations throughout the 43^rd Ward. Installation will take place in April and the works will remain on display through October.

"Chicago truly has some of the most inventive and exciting sculptors," said Alderman Daley. "The range of submissions made this an exciting competition. We selected works that we felt would best complement the public spaces available in this community."

Chosen area artists include: Evan Lewis, Nicole Beck, Bill Boyce, Berry Hehemann, Michael Helbing, John Kearney, Bobby Joe Scribner and Plamen Yordanov. With Chicago sculptors locked out of this year's Pier Walk exhibition, the LPCAI becomes the preeminent exhibition for area artists. The 2003 exhibition is expected to create even more opportunities for local sculptors.

"It’s important to support the areas’ artists," said Nicole Beck, one of the selected artists. "I’m pleased to be a part of a project that does just that."

The jury consisted of sponsors and city and community leaders including Marilyn Labkon of General Iron, Peter Nechipor of A. Finkl & Sons, Paula Barrington of the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, Patricia Bergeson of the Lincoln Park Conservations Association, Judith Tullman of the Wrightwood Neighborhood Association, Michael Thomas of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and Michael Lash and Edward Uhlir of the City of Chicago Public Art Commission.

"We really enjoyed participating in the jury process. But knowing that the results will enhance the community is really the most rewarding part of the project," said Marilyn Labkon, president of General Iron.

The Lincoln Park Community Art Initiative is a sculpture competition that will temporarily install large and mid-size sculptures throughout the 43^rd Ward. Although public art has been displayed in Lincoln Park for more than 100 years, Daley becomes Chicago’s first alderman to spearhead a ward-wide public art competition open to contemporary artists. Alderman Vi Daley launched LPCAI last year to support the arts and artists, beautify the area in with a distinctive environment and set a new standard for community partnerships.