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Ten Thousand Ripples (TTR) is a collaborative public art and civic engagement project initiated in Chicago, Illinois, by artist Indira Freitas Johnson in partnership with the nonprofit organization Changing Worlds, founded by Will Tenan.[1] The project incorporates public art to generate discussion on peace and nonviolence and explore responses to contemporary social issues.[2] Central to TTR are 100 fiberglass and resin Buddha sculptures, each weighted with several hundred pounds of concrete, designed by Johnson and installed in ten neighborhoods across the Chicago area.[3][4] The project involves artists, neighborhood leaders, and residents in community-driven planning and public engagement.[5]
TTR is designed to incorporate art into public spaces and community life while fostering dialogue on civic and social topics. Participating artists, organizations, and leaders from Chicago have contributed to the project through studios, organizations, and neighborhood initiatives.[5]
TTR is a partnership between Indira Johnson and Changing Worlds.[5] Guided by a city-wide advisory council, TTR implements strategies to engage communities and bring together participants from multiple sectors.[1] The project is based on the idea that structured dialogue can build trust and understanding, and that public art can facilitate discussion of social concerns and support neighborhood development.[5] Each community implements its own engagement approach. Common features include dialogue sessions, artistic programming, public art installations, and arts-integrated community development plans.[6][7]
Background
The concept of TTR emerged after Johnson exhibited early Buddha sculptures at the Chicago Cultural Center.[5] Viewers reported a sense of calm when interacting with the sculptures, leading Johnson to explore their placement in public spaces such as storefronts and vacant lots.[8]
In 2010, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation provided a grant to support the project’s development and explore the impact of public sculpture in communities. Local foundations funded sculpture production, with communities contributing to installation costs.[9] Johnson established an Advisory Council with leaders from arts, social service, community, and educational sectors to guide the project and consulted residents on sculpture placement.[10] Changing Worlds partnered with Johnson in 2011 to serve as the lead agency, facilitating goal-setting, community engagement frameworks, and planning for neighborhood implementation.[5]
TTR’s planning transitioned from centralized direction to community-based engagement, incorporating research and consultations with secular and faith-based leaders. Approaches included public forums, site recommendations, artistic programming, resource coordination, and structured timelines. Residents participated in discussions, forums, and arts planning over several months. Each neighborhood received ten sculptures, installed at sites selected by residents, to support community dialogue, arts programming, and cross-group collaboration.[11]
Current project
By spring 2013, 100 Buddha heads had been produced and installed across ten neighborhoods, including Albany Park, Pilsen, Rogers Park, South Chicago, Uptown, North Lawndale, Little Village, Auburn Gresham, Back of the Yards and Evanston.[12] The placement focused on neighborhoods with higher rates of crime and violence to encourage reflection and dialogue on social concerns.[1] Community responses included parades, bike tours, school programs, peace processions, and the creation of Peace Parks.[7]
In late summer 2013, five sculptures from each community were displayed at the Loyola University Museum of Art from July 20 to November 3, highlighting community engagement and art projects associated with TTR.[5][8] Remaining sculptures in each neighborhood continue to support discussions on peace and non-violence, and project-inspired works have been created in art, dance, literature, film, and photography.[13]
Controversy
Some commentators have raised concerns that the project represents cultural appropriation, comparing it to Chicago’s "Cows on Parade" initiative, but using imagery from non-Western cultures.[14][circular reference] Johnson has stated that the Buddha images are used without religious intent.
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