“The Standard Club’s pending demise puts its art collection at risk of being liquidated—literally, in one instance. The club could get cash for wiping a mural off a wall.
“The piece dominates the third-floor dining room. ‘Complex Forms With Color Ink Washes superimposed,’ by Sol LeWitt, is 16 feet by 27 or 28 feet.
“But the orange and earth-toned drawing of irregular shapes can’t be moved from 320 S. Plymouth Court because it’s a wall drawing. A buyer would pay for LeWitt’s estate to re-create it, and the club would whitewash the 1990 original.
“The 151-year-old club, wracked by operating losses and declining membership, is slated to close May 1, “though under the circumstances we cannot provide guarantees and the situation may change rapidly,” the club said last week in an email to members referencing the coronavirus.” (Strahler, Crain’s, 3/16/20)
Preservation Chicago’s 2017 Chicago 7 Most Endangered list included 20th Century Public Art and Sculpture. We continue to advocate to protect Chicago’s irreplaceable collection of public and semi-public art. Ideally, the historic building along with significant interior spaces and works of art would be protected by a Chicago Landmark Designation.