The Nightingale

The Nightingale (2019)

Artist: Janet Austin

Media: Welded steel, powder coated stainless steel, fiberglass tape, concrete, glass mosaic

Dimensions: 19' H x 9' W x 9' D

Location: 2801 N.Broadway, Chicago IL

Sponsor: Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, Chicago IL

The inspiration for this sculpture, The Nightingale, of a nightingale in a tree that turns into a bird cage, comes from a fairy tale of the same title by Hans Christian Andersen. In that childhood classic, a nightingale is captured from its natural habitat in the woods and given to the Emperor of China who is enchanted by its beautiful song. Ultimately, the nightingale escapes to the forest as the Emperor turns his attention to a mechanical bird. Facing death, the emperor realizes that only nature, in the form of the bird, can soothe his last moments, and the nightingale returns to his side. This 1843 tale is a reminder that the human desire to control and consume nature is a phenomenon with roots throughout time. In addition, the sculpture evokes the decorative sensitivity of the nineteenth century, with its combination of Eastern and Western art, and the lacy treatment of the structural steel.

Our struggle to appreciate, respect and preserve nature is a long one. From Aristotle to John Muir to Rachel Carson, great minds have questioned man’s relationship with nature, a complex theme that is hyper-important in the 21st century as we continue to consume our natural resources at an alarmingly accelerated pace.