GEORGIA SOUTHERN ART PROFESSOR WINS GLOBAL COVID-19 MONUMENT DESIGN CONTEST, UNVEILING IN CHICAGO PLANNED FOR 2025

Shovels are in the dirt as the Chicago COVID-19 Monument Commission breaks ground on Georgia Southern University Art Professor Casey Schachner’s winning COVID-19 memorial monument design.

Schachner’s entry in the global design competition saw the fearsome, spiked COVID-19 cell reimagined as a dandelion, symbolism she says sparked memories of youthful innocence and rebirth.

“It feels incredibly meaningful to be a part of something of this nature —both in terms of scale, visibility and significance to the many people affected,” explained Schachner. “It is so important to get the park and the sculpture right — how the piece captures this idea of honor and remembrance while simultaneously serving as a place of reflection and hope.”

Schachner is currently consulting with the COVID-19 Monument Committee to bring the soaring 20-to-30-foot outdoor display of yellow, tufted dandelions to life. The sculpture will be located in the Illinois Medical District, one of the largest urban medical districts in the nation. The statue will be unveiled in fall 2025.

“Based on what I know of similar-scale sculptures and monuments, it’s going to require a pretty significant budget because they’re working from the ground up, with the foundation, electrical work and engineering to make sure that the pieces can be safe around the public.”