Marilyn attracts smiles, scorn and skirt chasers

A 26-foot-tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in her most famous pose was unveiled on Chicago's now-truly Magnificent Mile Friday morning.

The Marilyn Monroe that now stands tall on Michigan Avenue, her head high enough to see passing boats on the Chicago River, is fortunate to be all aluminum and stainless steel, unable to read the nasty things being written about her.

Passers-by wasted little time positioning themselves under her billowing skirt to get a subway-grate view of Monroe in the same stance as she appeared in "The Seven Year Itch."

The area is known for unusual public art displays. Years ago, Michigan Avenue was lined with fiberglass cows.

And in the same plaza where the Monroe statue now stands, another sculpture by the same artist, Seward Johnson, was put up: a tribute to the farmer and daughter of Grant Wood's "American Gothic" fame.

The Marilyn Monroe statue will stand until next spring.