Project Background
Other Washingtons reimagines the story of Chicago’s George Washington statue (1904) by expanding whose histories are remembered, celebrated, and made visible. Drawing on the significance of Washington as a surname embraced by generations of Black Americans, the project explores identity, legacy, and the power of naming.
Surrounding the monument, a field of flags and banners honors the many Washingtons whose contributions have shaped this neighborhood, the City of Chicago, and the nation. Together, these voices transform the site into a living monument, one that invites reflection, conversation, and a more expansive understanding of history.
North View
Sponsors
This artwork, part of the Chicago Monuments Project, broadens our focus beyond the nation’s first president, to celebrate other Washingtons, past and present, who should be recognized for the impact they’ve made on Chicago and the nation. It is generously supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, in partnership with the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
Collaborators
- Amanda Williams — Artist
- Ryan Gann — Project Manager
- Sarah Hanson — Research Lead
- Candice Washington — Educator-in-Residence
- Taylor Thompson — Studio Assistant
- Khloe Swanson, Cornelius Tulloch, and Marcos Mercado — Production Assistants
- Span — Graphic Design
- Best Imaging — Flags and Banner Printing
- Christy Webber — Landscape Contractor
- ROCKEY Structures — Structural Engineering
- City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) — Commissioner Kenya Meritt and Lydia Ross
- Mellon Foundation — Elizabeth Alexander
- Chicago Department of Transportation
- Alderman Pat Dowell — 3rd Ward
- Erin Harkey — President, Americans for the Arts
- Lorraine Forte and Liz Flock — Editors and Fact Checkers
- All the biographers and Washingtons recognized and yet to be recognized