In 2013, Plant Green Ideas, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to changing the way people think about environmental issues through art, interaction and education partnered with the Chicago Cultural Mile to install 14 gargantuan heads along Michigan Avenue and one at Navy Pier for good measure. The heads are made of recycled and sustainable materials. The tops of the heads were cut open so that greenery and other art could be stuffed inside. On the back of each statue was a message about environmental concerns and sustainability. At two metres tall and over 1200 kilograms, these heads stopped traffic. Like a Technicolor tribute to Paul Krendler, flowers, plants and butterflies exploded from the tops of the heads. The faraway looks on their faces stared down the street, through pedestrians and into the beyond. Though the installation was only temporary, you can purchase your own smaller version of a planter head from Chia Pet that even comes with markers so you can graffiti on a small scale.
