Chicago artist unveils ‘Other Washingtons’ monument project

Artist and architect Amanda Williams has unveiled ‘Other Washingtons’ in Chicago’s Washington Park. The installation surrounds a 1904 statue of George Washington with blue flags featuring the faces of notable Black Americans sharing the same surname, such as inventor George Washington Carver and actor Denzel Washington.

The project is part of the Chicago Monuments Project, an initiative by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) to address gaps in gender and racial representation within public symbols. The installation is designed as a ‘living archive’ that will rotate annually for three years, allowing community members to highlight stories that are often less widely known.

The colors used in the flags—blue, cream, chocolate, and salmon—reference a palette developed by George Washington Carver. This artistic response follows a period of national reckoning regarding racial injustice and the removal of controversial monuments.