Wednesday, January 23, 2013

And It's Up...

Ald. Osterman took to Facebook to post the finished "Asia on Argyle" signage, along with an update on the Argyle streetscape.  "The Asia on Argyle identifier was installed by Chicago Department of Transportation today. This is an exciting addition to Argyle Street and marks the beginning of more to come with an Argyle Streetscape officially in the works. Design for that will kick off this Spring - stay tuned for more details!"

UU Note:  It looks remarkably close to the design that was done with community input in 2009 - 2010:


The reactions today on the alderman's Facebook page have been less than complimentary, and there was this update:  "Thank you for your feedback - we appreciate it. This is not the final product. Decorative pavers will be installed under the viaduct, more color will be added to the columns and it will be illuminated at night. My predecessor held a community process while this was being designed by CDOT. As we move forward with the Argyle Streetscape, we invite you all to be a part of the design process. There will be community meetings held this summer. Sign up for a weekly newsletter to stay tuned!"

This is what the station looked like last summer, the night before reconstruction began:



18 comments:

  1. What the bloody heck?! I'm speechless. I have to look at that thing every day going to and from work?! It's awful!

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  2. Among other things …

    The sans-serif font choice is awful.

    The kerning between letters is gappy and bad.

    There are overly huge gaps between words.

    The 'g' and the 'y' don't even fit on the sign.

    The letters look as if they're different sizes.

    The "i" in 'asia' has no dot even though the sign is supposed to be in all lowercase.

    This sign is an awful, aesthetic eyesore and I can't believe I'm going to be forced to look at this monstrosity every single day as I go to and from the CTA station.

    Time travel needs to be invented so that this thing can be torn down YESTERDAY.

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  3. I agree it's not beautiful, or even pleasant. It is an improvement over the rot and decay that was there before, but the sign detracts greatly from the structural improvements. I'm sure everyone's heart was in the right place, but this sign should be a mere stepping stone to the final version.

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  4. I'm diggin' this new look!! After studying the design for a bit I thought about how the area is known as NEW Chinatown. This sign is very "fresh" in its approach. If you want to see old, traditional asian architecture go check out Cermak Chinatown.

    @ Mike Harris: Do you know the story of how an overwhelming amount of Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower and wanted it torn down soon after it was built? I know this isn't that, but maybe one day you'll grow to love the Asia on Argyle sign?

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  5. Criticisms for this sign should go beyond the aesthetics. It is completely racially and culturally insensitive to the people that make up this neighborhood. Calling it Asia ignores all the distinct individuals living and working here, and categorizes all people of Asian decent the same, labeling businesses without their consent. Not to mention, it turns Argyle into something resembling a life size arcade, destroying the authenticity of the neighborhood.

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  6. You all know I'm usually VERY positive on here, but I can't say anything nice about this... other than, thanks for making an effort.

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  7. I actually sort of like it. It is gaudy and a little bit of an eyesore. But more so, when I read yesterday's post, I thought it was a bit overzealous in announcing that area/street as 'Asia.' I'm not going to be the jerk that hollers racism or profiling at something like this, but it did stick out as odd.

    Having said that, I live in Uptown and don't venture up that way all that often (I'm around Montrose/Sheridan). A sign like this would make me head up that way more frequently though, as now I feel the area would be my 'marked' go-to spot for a particular food, events, shopping, etc, not just a coincidence of perhaps similar-language speaking individuals. Hence, I'm in favor of the new unique area identification, despite it having its aesthetic, shortcomings.

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  8. Wow... just... wow. This needs to go on to one of those "How to piss off Graphic Designers" websites.

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  9. I have to agree that this is racially insensitive. It is specifically in service of exploiting the neighborhood and its residents. As a Chinese-American, I am disturbed by the generalization of "Asian". Also, the wording of "Asia on Argyle" makes it sounds like you Asia is a product to be featured and purchased here.

    I love this neighborhood not just for its Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai influence, but because of the community of multi-racial, multi-religious and colorful residents.

    This sign encourages Chicagoans to commodify ethnicity. This is yet another example of how to separate a community and alienate a people as opposed to encourage an articulate and respectful understanding of varied cultures.

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  10. Exactly! This is simply promoting neoliberal and capitalist structures that have been exploiting people for decades.

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  11. I'm sorry, but did AlexisLinks just get out of her Sociology 102 class? In reality, an ugly sign is an ugly sign. It's not a monument to hegemony.

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  12. So this means that the retail spaces that the CTA is trying to rent out are only offered to Asian businesses, right? (sarcasm)

    What's next - "pigeons on lawrence" and "blight on wilson?"

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  13. It kinda matches the Ba Le sign and color scheme. "Our food is your taste".

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  14. I hate to be a Grinch.....or a half-baked 'Don Draper', but the font (the letters are cut off and uninspired).

    Not to mention the odd coloration.....it looks rather like a SALE! sign.

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  15. Is it possible to get a refund and return this sign?

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  16. Just went by it earlier today. I actually kinda like it- although it certainly is on the trendy side of graphic design that won't stand the test of time.

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