Doing a 460 on the Mag Mile

The Terra Museum on Chicago's North Michigan may be long gone and its building headed for the scrap heap, with a new 40-story mini-tower by Lucien Lagrange for Ritz-Carlton on the way, but not before a few last spasms of showcase. Last October, the space turned crimson as a "pop-up" store selling the Motorola Red Slvr cellphones that kicked back a portion of each sale to "Project Red", Bono's inititive to combat AIDS in the third world, becoming the site of a media frenzy as the Irish rocker joined Oprah in a photo op trek to the store.

Now, beginning February 1st for a two week period, the space is again being transformed, this time as a Lexus 460 Degrees Gallery, promoting the car of the same name. The centerpiece will be an architectural installation by the Belgium designer Arne Quinze, whose Frame hard-foam furniture has a prominent place in Rem Koolhaas's new Seattle Public Library. (The illustration here is from Quinze's October install in Los Angeles). The installation will also include video art from Pascual Sisto and photography by Miranda Lichtenstein. After an invitation-only opening reception on February 1st, the "Light and Speed Exhibition" will be open to the public 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. February 2 through 15th, with test drives on the 2nd through 6th, and 8th and 9th. And Garrett's, Chicago's best pop, cheese and karmelcorn, right next door. Wipe your hands before you touch the car.