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Life-size bronze sculptures of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are coming to Chicago, and a local producer is leading the effort.
Pam Kasper, who has been working on the Siskel and Ebert documentary with director Michael Bonfiglio for the past two years, wanted to find a way to honor the two famous Chicago film critics. She said she was inspired after seeing a statue of Ebert outside the Virginia Theater in Champaign.
“I realized that we have so many tributes in Chicago to people who have made such an impact – athletes, politicians. But there was nothing about Roger and Gene,” Kasper said. “Despite how popular and influential they became, they never left Chicago. They were on the air for 25 years nationally, and they could be gone.”
Along with successful careers and appearances on talk shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show,” Siskel worked as the Chicago Tribune’s chief film critic for 30 years until his death in 1999, and Ebert worked for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years until his death in 2013.
“They were stars, they were celebrities, but they wanted to stay based in Chicago and always keep their newspaper jobs,” Kasper said. “I thought it was really important that Chicago gave back by honoring their legacy.”
The sculpture is expected to be completed by 2028, Kasper said. She said she is aiming to raise $230,000 for the project, partnering with Chicago Gateway Green for corporate sponsorships and public donations.
A memorabilia auction in Hollywood will also help raise money for the project. People can enter to win items donated by movie studios and celebrities, including an apron signed by the cast of “The Bear” and donated by Christopher Storer, the show’s creator.
Other items include a “Toy Story” Jessie doll signed by John Cusack of Evanston, a “Caddyshack” lobby card signed by Bill Murray of Evanston, and two “Mad Men” costume pieces signed by designer Janie Bryant. A member-led tour of the renovated “Brady Brunch” house in Los Angeles and a 30-minute Zoom call with Lee Eisenberg, head writer for the sitcom “The Office,” will also be part of the auction.
People can donate, enter the auction and follow along with the icon project on their website. Fundraising began Thursday.
“Everyone can help build this exciting tribute to two men who are so important to our city,” said Kasper.
News of the sculpture was first reported Thursday by Crain’s Chicago Business.
Standing at 6-foot-5, the Siskel and Ebert statue will be at Prudential Plaza. 130 E. Randolph St., chosen for its visibility and proximity to where Siskel and Ebert once worked. Ownership was “immediately open to the idea of having this piece of public art on the plaza,” Kasper said.
The statue is being created by Preston Jackson, sculptor, painter and sculpture professor emeritus at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois.
“I wanted to make sure (the artist) was someone who understood who Roger and Gene were, and also, frankly, had the talent to pull it off,” Kasper said. “Seeing Preston Jackson’s work, I knew this was the right guy. Not only is he brilliant and talented, but he’s an interesting guy, he’s from the area.”
Titled “Siskel and Ebert: Two Thumbs Up,” the piece of art depicts Siskel and Ebert standing side by side, each holding an up gesture as a nod to their film rating system. After a lively discussion about a movie, the two celebrities would indicate whether they liked it with thumbs up or thumbs down. If a movie got “Two Thumbs Up”, movie studios would often use it for commercials.
“I think a lot of people today have probably heard of Roger and Gene … “Even just the ‘Two Thumbs Up’ rating system, that was a precursor to Letterboxd and Rotten Tomatoes.
“I want people to know and remember that … they were about lively debate, but also about respecting each other and listening to each other, which you don’t get a lot of in today’s world,” she said.
In front of Siskel and Ebert, there will be two metal theater sets to allow people to interact with the art piece.
“I thought it would be so cool to have something where people could … go and interact with Roger and Gene in theater sets and put their own thumbs up to pay tribute to two guys who meant so much to so many people,” Kasper said.
“They are both so close to my heart, and the image was born from the work on the documentary. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so fun and so rewarding,” said Kasper. “It’s worth it to see people’s faces when they see the statue donated. Even their families feel the same way – the Siskel and Ebert families have just been so wonderful and supportive.”
Kasper also hopes it will be “just a fun thing for the city.”
“I mean, so much fun to walk around Michigan Avenue or be at Millennium Park and walk over to Pru Plaza and be able to take a picture with this really cool piece of art,” she said.
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This story was originally published by Block Club Chicago and distributed in partnership with The Associated Press.
