ABOUT THE PIECE

Stream is a Renaissance-style silent composition of a very large crowd pausing to witness something captivating yet unnamed. Featuring over 150 individuals, including many Chicagoans, the artwork draws a frame around the notion of community and the shared experiences that make up daily life in a large city.

“How does a city heal from being separated for so long, when so much of its interactions are in person, face to face? I created this idea after waiting for my first train ride post-pandemic. It was beautiful to see faces again, to see people smile and scream and cry on the subway. I wanted to capture this feeling of beauty and anxiety.”
— Gabriel Barcia-Colombo

Within the artwork, some observers stand in contemplative thought while others snap photos of the awe-inspiring subject, intentionally omitted from the screen. Are these individuals merely observing, or are they participating in something sublime, confounding, or even disturbing? Evocative of a Greek chorus, which comments on collective hopes, fears and joys, Stream turns the tables on the dynamic between spectacle and audience. Moreover, it serves as a reflection on the barometers of social connection, often overshadowed by our mobile devices and technological distractions.