Would you like to paint a horse?
If you know me, then you know I love striking up conversations with strangers – they always lead to fascinating stories! About a year ago, I met a guy who also works in advertising. His agency was teaming up with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to raise funds for the families of fallen officers. They were seeking Chicago artists to create commissioned pieces for organizations willing to support their cause. These artworks would then be displayed along Michigan Ave in a public art show running through November.
By the end of our chat, I was convinced that I needed a horse in my living room. Though I hadn't picked up a paintbrush in years, I felt a deep calling to contribute to this meaningful cause. Later, I discovered that the Chicago Cubs would sponsor me to paint a tribute for the first Chicago officer who lost his life in the line of duty. Had I known this from the start, I might have hesitated, but by then, all the artists had been matched with their horses. It turned out that Constable Quinn had a son who played for the Chicago White Stockings in 1903 – which later became the Chicago Cubs in 1939 – making the Cubs a fitting sponsor.
The following Friday morning, a truck hauling a flatbed trailer with two life-sized horse sculptures arrived at my apartment. These horses stood about 7 feet tall and 8 feet long! The driver chuckled when I expressed my surprise that a horse wouldn't fit in my elevator. My backup plan involved the dimly lit garage beneath the building.
The next Saturday, my mom drove up to lend a hand with the painting. We ordered Chinese food and sat on the cement floor, laughing at the absurdity of the situation. My apartment is located above The Publican, and every time a keg delivery person turned the corner and spotted the giant horse where my car should be, they couldn't help but react. Throughout the week, I continued painting after work, and the atmosphere in the garage was incredibly supportive. Many passersby expressed hope for the Cubs to make it to the World Series that year. Regardless, I cherished the company as they watched me work, and one neighbor even brought me a beer.
I painted Quinn in blue with white baseball stockings, featuring the Cubs logo on his left side. On the right side, his mane was adorned with angelic feathers intertwined with snippets of history. For instance, he was the first officer to fall, a member of the 9th ward, and a shamrock represented his Irish heritage. I learned that Quinn had been fatally beaten while making an arrest in 1853, suffering brain injuries that claimed his life the following morning. His killer received only a five-year sentence for manslaughter.
The Constable Quinn Horse sculpture was commissioned by the Chicago Cubs. Artist Megan King
After five days of meticulous painting, I applied a protective UV top coat to seal Mr. Quinn's vibrant colors. When the delivery man returned on Friday, we carefully loaded him back onto the flatbed. Surprisingly, I felt a pang of sadness as I watched the truck pull away. After spending a week researching Quinn's story and pouring my heart into the painting, I felt a genuine connection to him and his family. In need of a pick-me-up, I decided to stop by Starbucks before heading to work. To my astonishment, I spotted Constable Quinn being unloaded from a truck across the street from my office at the Intercontinental Hotel!
From the 16th floor of my building, I had a breathtaking view of the beautiful horses lined up along Michigan Avenue. Thousands of people stopped to admire Mr. Quinn and read his plaque. It was a truly remarkable experience, and the last I heard, he had been auctioned off to a new home in Arizona.