Four display windows in the new Sears store on State and Madison streets in Chicago are alive this month with The Urban Dream Capsule, a performance art installation. From June 12 to June 25, four middle-aged men will publicly cook, clean, sleep and work in the makeshift (but fully functioning) bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom. A chalkboard allows the men to communicate with the audience when they choose.
The Sears windows are modeled after the Urban Dream Capsule in the windows of Myer Melbourne (Australia) at the 1996 Melbourne International Festival of the Arts. It has since been recreated in various department stores around the world.
The Sears on State's Urban Dream Capsule project is being co-sponsored by United Airlines, citysearch.com, Peapod.com and Victoria Government through Arts (Victoria, Australia). It is presented by Performing Arts Chicago.