Rooted in Greatness
A unique art installation that was created to commemorate the
Bicentennial of the State of Illinois and its people.
Rooted in GreatnessWatch Video Preview
Rooted in Greatness AudioClick to Listen
Rooted in Greatness made its debut on Chicago’s McCormick Square Campus
and was projected every evening from August of 2017 to February of 2018.
A One-of-a-Kind Celebration of Illinois History
Rooted in Greatness was a free video art installation that honored 40 noteworthy Illinoisans in celebration of Illinois’ Bicentennial. As the sun set. each night, three trees came alive with the images and stories of these luminaries in Illinois history.
Onlookers learned the fascinating stories of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant,Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama; cultural giants Walt Disney and Oprah Winfrey; leaders like Ida B. Wells and Jane Addams; artists and writers Carl Sandburg and Muddy Waters; and sports icons from Ernie Banks to Michael Jordan. From presidents and poets to artists and architects, explorers and entertainers, musicians, inventors, scientists, sports legends, community crusaders and business innovators, each of these men and women made great strides in the state and have had a lasting influence on the world.
As videos of their faces were projected into the trees at the corner of Cermak and Calumet, accompanying audio shared a brief bio of each individual. The narratives also were accessible by phone or tablet through the audio link posted above.
Rooted in Greatness was inspired by the theme of the Illinois Bicentennial — BORN, BUILT AND GROWN. The trees are a metaphor for the their long-lasting impact, while the projections serve as the reminders of their legacies. Thanks to the roots established by countless individuals like those being showcased, Illinois has continued to grow and flourish.
Watch the Comcast Newsmakers’ feature story on Rooted in Greatness!
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Rooted in Greatness Honorees
Jane Addams
Ernie Banks
Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable
Black Hawk
Gwendolyn Brooks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
John Deere
Walt Disney
Ladda Tammy Duckworth
George Ferris
Marshall Field
Harrison Ford
Betty Friedan
Ulysses S. Grant
Ernest Hemingway
Quincy Jones
Michael Jordan
Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee
Abraham Lincoln
Robert Rutherford McCormick
Bob Newhart
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Barack Obama
Michelle Obama
Walter Payton
Michael Pena
Ronald Reagan
Shonda Rhimes
Carl Sandburg
Louis Sullivan
Aaron Montgomery Ward
Harold Washington
Muddy Waters
Raquel Welch
Ida B. Wells
Betty White
Robin Williams
Oprah Winfrey
Bob Woodward
Frank Lloyd Wright
Project Partners
Rooted in Greatness was created by Chicago-based nonprofits Luma8 and the Timeline Theatre Company, and led by Broadway In Chicago president, Lou Raizin.
● LUMA8 is a nonprofit that strives to position Chicago as a focal point of artistic innovation and to enrich the lives of its citizens while creating economic impact.
● Chicago’s TimeLine Theatre Company has produced the historic narrative for Rooted in Greatness, including the video and audio content. Now in its 22nd season, TimeLine Theatre Company presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues.
● Lou Raizin is the President of Broadway In Chicago and has a distinguished history of elevating art within Illinois.
Rooted in Greatness Sponsors
Rooted in Greatness Creative Artists
Lydia Diamond – Writer
Mike Tutaj – Video Designer
Andre Pluess – Composer & Sound Designer
Maren Robinson – Dramaturg and Historical Researcher
Voiceover Narration – Peter Sipla, Donna Steele, Ginneh Thomas and Jonah Winston
Video and audio content was produced and directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling and Artistic Director PJ Powers.