The Bank: John Lackey Gets Preview of Chicago Cubs World Series Art Show

Reprinted from The Sports Bank

Art imitates a surreal, transcendent moment in the life of every Chicago Cubs fan with the work of Opie Otterstand, which will be exhibited in Water Tower Place beginning next week. Cubs pitcher John Lackey got his own personal preview back on February 24th with a showing of It Happened from Otterstad himself. The painting, which depicts the Cubs’ World Series triumph, was unveiled to Lackey, and everyone else during a fundraiser at Vandergrift High School in Leander, Texas.

The Chicago Cubs World Series celebration paintings will be on public display at Narrative Gallery inside Chicago’s Water Tower Place, featuring special in-gallery appearances by Mr. Otterstad on Saturday, April 8, from 6:00-9:00 pm CST and Sunday, April 9, between 1:00-4:00 pm.

Cubs’ Moments of Victory: The Exhibition will run from Saturday, April 8, through Sunday, April 30, 2017

As with absolutely everything that involves Major League Baseball these days, there is of course copyright authorization (MLB may be even more Draconian about logo usage rights than even the NFL in this regard. Otterstad is MLB sanctioned.

Throughout his fifteen years as an MLB sanctioned artist, Opie Otterstad has created World Series celebration paintings for the Chicago Cubs (2016), Kansas City Royals (2015), Boston Red Sox (2004/2007/2013), San Francisco Giants (2010/2012/2014), New York Yankees (2009), Philadelphia Phillies (2008), St. Louis Cardinals (2006/2011), Chicago White Sox (2005), Florida Marlins (2003) and Anaheim Angels (2002), as well as many other of Major League Baseball’s most historic moments.

Below you’ll find the exhibition video: