Alice Jacobsen

Alice "Zani" Jacobsen (1928–1993), was an American postwar and contemporary sculptor who resided on the North Side of Chicago.[1] She is known for her plaster sculptural reliefs of buildings, structures, and famous landmarks that she felt "'represent an important Chicago style' or demonstrate an innovative solution to technical construction problems."[2] Her subjects include local taverns, popular theaters,[3] neighborhood fire stations, and private homes that were built in the middle to late 1800s and early 1900s and represent Victorian architecture.[4] She depicted extant buildings in Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Wicker Park, Old Town Triangle, the Gold Coast, Prairie Avenue, Pilsen, Kenwood, Hyde Park, and Pullman neighborhoods. Some of her more popular subjects include the Chicago Water Tower, Riverview Amusement Park, and Comiskey Park.[5]

Alice "Zani" Jacobsen
Alice "Zani" Jacobsen
Born
Alice Jacobsen

1928 (1928)
DiedSeptember 4, 1993(1993-09-04) (aged 64–65)
EducationSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago
Known forSculpting plaster reliefs of Chicago architecture built in the middle to late 1800s and early 1900s.
Notable workChicago Water Tower, Comiskey Park, Riverview Amusement Park
SpouseAlbert "Nix" Jacobsen

Design

Jacobsen was a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).[6]

Jacobsen's design process started with her and her husband driving the streets of Chicago in search of potential subjects. They navigated their way through the city by using a grid map that distinguished the boundaries of the then 176 neighborhoods of Chicago. When she found a potential subject, she would photograph it in detail before using the photos as a reference to recreate an authentic scaled down version. Before starting any work, Jacobsen would thoroughly research each subject, including building styles and materials popular during that era. Her biggest source of information for this was The Chicago Historical Society, neighborhood groups, and local nostalgia enthusiasts.[2]

Alice "Zani" Jacobsen plaster reliefs

When she began a new piece she sculpted a "master" or original model by using a wax-based clay. This was a tedious process; Zani frequently had to fill in visual blanks as subjects were often missing some of their original details due to theft and decay. In these instances she relied on structural advice from her husband, a carpenter, and on historical photographs of the neighborhood, utilizing information on similarly styled buildings to reconstruct the missing pieces. After completing the original model, she would create a latex mold to cast a limited edition run of models (often 10 to 40 castings).[1] Zani used a gypsum cement to obtain a accurate reproduction, hand painting each piece in typical colors of the building materials used. After creating a limited number of copies she would destroy the mold.[7][5]

Work

Jacobson's recreation of the Old Paradise and Chicago Theaters were featured in an exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.[8] She also sculpted the Belmont Theater,[9] the Avalon Theater,[3] and the Schootz Tied House.[10]

Jacobsen's pieces were sold at Chicago's Gold Coast Art Fest and from her studio at 5005 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago.[2] She was a member of the Theatre Historical Society.[11]

Death

Alice "Zani" Jacobsen, 65, died September 4, 1993, of cancer at her home in Chicago. Survivors include her husband, Albert "Nix" Jacobsen; and two sisters.[8]

The Chicago Public Library holds an archive of her artist files under the name "Zani Jacobsen".[12]

References
  1. "Old Chicago gets plastered". Chicago Tribune. 1975-08-09. p. 197. ISSN 1085-6706. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. "Artist's Love of Architecture Has City's Looks Standing Out In". Chicago Tribune. August 3, 1986. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  3. "Richard Sklenar holds a Zani Jacobsen sculpture". Chicago Tribune. 1998-11-01. p. 231. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. "Zani Jacobsen Preserves Chicago History". American Breweriana Journal (43): 28. March 1990.
  5. Jacobsen, Alice. Zani - Old Chicago Reliefs. Alice Jacobsen.
  6. "Entr'acte". The Wheeling Herald newspaper. 1973-09-14. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  7. "Models Keep Classic Architecture Alive". American Breweriana Journal. 1990 (March–April): 29. 1990.
  8. "Alice 'Zani' Jacobsen". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  9. "Lot Detail - Jacobsen, Zani (American, 20th century). Belmont Theatre". auctions.potterauctions.com.
  10. Haydock, Herbert A.; Heydock, Herb; Haydock, Helen I. (February 11, 2003). "Beer Advertising Memorabilia". Turner Publishing Company – via Google Books.
  11. "Marquee: The Journal of the Theatre Historical Society". The Society. February 11, 1993 – via Google Books.
  12. "Chicago Artist Files, I-K". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
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