Chrome bumper gorilla.

Chrome Bumper Gorilla

The Chrome Bumper Gorilla is an early examples of what has become a familiar alt-art sculpture technique: fashioning animals out of old chrome automobile bumpers. Nowadays those bumpers are only found in junkyards. Back in 1977, when the Gorilla was made, chrome bumpers were still on American cars.

The Gorilla was created by the late artist John Kearney as a memorial to Scott Sanders, commissioned by his mom, who worked at the Hull House social services association. It stood on its knuckles in front of Hull House until the building was torn down in 2013. The new property owner pledged to preserve the Gorilla, and had it restored by John Kearney's former assistant. It returned to nearly its original spot in 2015.

Chrome Bumper Gorilla

Address:: 4520 N. Beacon St., Chicago, IL
Directions:: Uptown. On the west side of N. Beacon St., midway between W. Wilson and W. Sunnyside Aves.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Statue of Death: Grim Reaper, Chicago, IL - < 1 mi.

Blind Love, Three Arms, Chicago, IL - < 1 mi.

Woolly Mammoth: Curiosity Cabinet, Chicago, IL - < 1 mi.

In the region:

Large Mortar and Pestle, Chicago, IL - 6 mi.

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