Artist Wyland; who’s goal is to paint 100 giant murals of whales on the sides of buildings around the world by 2011 is going to have to add another city to his list. I won’t say that there isn’t a place for dogs playing poker whale murals, but they just don’t belong on the sides of buildings, in plain view, where people can see them.

His mural on the east wall of the Hotel Intercontinental, titled The Windy Whales (completed in 1997), is being usurped by progress… And not a moment too soon.
The mural will be obstructed by the Avenue East Condos, currently under construction. (Yet another luxury building going up in Streeterville.)

Chicago will not be the first city to cover or tear down his work. There are at least fourteen other “extinct” murals on the list. Detroit managed to save their 108 ft tall mural. It seems the Historic District Commission thought it was historic. My only fear is that Chicago will invite him back for an eyesore encore.

I love the tuck pointing repairs to the brick on the left side of the pic, they almost look like bubbles rising from the depths. I wonder if this was done recently to prepare for the new condo building.