Coil Mound
Subject: Abandoned Coil Mound (Land Art)
Opened: October 14, 2019, & October 11, 2021 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Location: Chicago, IL (Horner Park)
Cost: $200,000+ (low estimate)
Abandoned by:
Lawrence Santiago (artist)
4000N, a project managed by the American Indian Center (AIC)*
American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC): Heather Miller, previous Executive Director
Chicago Public Arts Group (CPAG): Maryrose Pavkovic, previous Cultural Coordinator II
*Formerly known as Northwest Portage Walking Museum
Date: 07/22/2023
Camera: Canon S110
Related Post: Photos – Abandoned Coil Mounds, Photos: Abandoned Coil Mound (Land Art) II, Photos: Abandoned Coil Mound (Land Art) III, Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds, Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds II
Invasive Plants
The Coil Mound had invasive grass plant plugs, Yellow Fox Tail and Barnyard Grass, planted in late June 2023.
Yellow Fox Tail
Name: Yellow Fox Tail (Setaria pumila)
Common Names: Pigeon Grass, Yellow Bristlegrass
Status: Introduced (Invasive)
Yellow Fox Tail is listed as an introduced plant in North America by the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Likely introduced to North America from Europe and Asia, both species have spread throughout Pennsylvania and most of the United States.” – PennState Extension
Barnyard Grass
Name: Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli)
Common Names: Cocksure Grass, Japanese Millet
Status: Introduced (Invasive)
Barnyard Grass is listed as an introduced plant in North America by the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Introduced from India and Europe, this species has spread throughout Pennsylvania and much of the United States.” – PennState Extension
Comments
- As of 2022, The project is no longer a Coil Mound and is called Land Art. Coil Mound = Relationship, Land Art = Object.
- Year four and no Native plants.
- Invasive grass plant plugs were planted in late June 2023 (the hottest part of the growing season).
- After several healthy July rain storms, the grass plugs do not look healthy.
- The top base and pathways are deteriorating because plants were not in place at the beginning of the construction in 2019. Over three years later, the grass plugs were put in.
- Lawrence Santiago stated they requested to remove their name from the project.
- No Native Folx was contracted or invited to construct the site, maintain the site, or plant Native plants.
- The Artist’s name is not listed.
- Chicago Public Arts Group (CPAG) and American Indian Center (AIC) names and logos are listed on banners.
- The American Indian Center is no longer managing the 4000N project.
- Any Native plants in the outer garden space are not intentional and are from the area surrounding the fence.
Photographs
Update, 09/06/2023
Lawrence Santiago’s Website
The Coil Mound is not listed on the artist’s website. The abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds are listed.
Creative Commons License
This work by David Bernie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You may download, share, and post the images under the condition that the works are attributed to the artist.
