Coiled Serpent Mound
Subject: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) V
Opened: October 14, 2019, October 11, 2021 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day), & June 5, 2024
Location: Chicago, IL (Horner Park)
Cost: $200,000+ (low estimate)
Abandoned by:
Lawrence Santiago (artist)
Nilay D. Mistry, (Landscape Architect)
4000N, an abandoned project previously managed by the American Indian Center (AIC)*
American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC): Heather Miller, previous Executive Director
Chicago Public Arts Group (CPAG): Maryrose Pavkovic, previous Cultural Coordinator II
*Formerly known as Northwest Portage Walking Museum
Date: 5/28/2025
Camera: Fuji X100V
Related Post:
Photos: Abandoned Metal Sculpture (Nesewin)
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mounds
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) II
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) III
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) IV
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) V
Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds
Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds II
Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds III
Photos: Abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds IV
Links
CPAG Project – Coiled Serpent Mound *CPAG is requesting donations to maintain the mound.
CPAG Project – Pokto Cinto (Serpent Twin) *CPAG is not requesting donations to maintain the mounds.
Invasive Grass
The Coiled Serpent Mound had invasive grass plant plugs, Yellow Fox Tail, and Barnyard Grass, planted in late June 2023.
Yellow Fox Tail (Setaria pumila)
Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli)
Invasive Plants
Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous)
Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum)
Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
Narrow-leaved Bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)
Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta)Wild Carrot (Daucus carota
Field Penny-cress (Thlaspi avense)
Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis)
Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis)
Common Lambsquarter (Chenopadium album)
Native Plants
Slender Path Rush (Juncus tenuis)
Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis)
Comments
- As of 2022, the project is no longer a Coiled Serpent Mound and is called Land Art. Coil Mound = Relationship, Land Art = Object. Land Art = White Supremacy.
- In year five, the only Native plants are the Slender Path Rush (Juncus tenuis) and Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis).
- Invasive grass plant plugs, Yellow Fox Tail (Setaria pumila) and Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), were planted in late June 2023 (the hottest part of the growing season).
- April, May, and July 2024 experienced multiple healthy rains, but the plants and soil do not appear healthy.
- The top base and pathways are deteriorating because plants were not in place at the beginning of the construction in 2019. Over three years later, the grass plugs were put in.
- There is a path that cuts through the front of the mound. Invasive grass seeds were laid down, and birds quickly ate them. The path is still prominent.
- Lawrence Santiago stated on October 11, 2021, that he requested to remove his name from the project.
- No Native Folx were contracted or invited to construct the site, maintain the site, or plant Native plants.
The American Indian Center’s (AIC) name and logo are not listed on the banner.There is no permanent sign.- The American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC) has abandoned the project and no longer manages the 4000N (4000N.org) project.
- “Santiago X was not immediately available for comment.” – 6/5/2024, Block Club, Horner Park’s Coiled Serpent Mound Now Open
Article
Horner Park’s Coiled Serpent Mound Now Open, Block Club Chicago, June 11, 2024
“Santiago X was not immediately available for comment.”
Photographs
Lawrence Santiago’s Website
The Coiled Serpent Mound is not listed on the artist’s website. The abandoned Serpent Twin Mounds are listed.
Land Art
Land Art is a series of artworks by Ihanktonwan Dakota artist David Bernie that addresses issues related to land art projects, such as land ownership and being born out of the concept of manifest destiny.
Creative Commons License
Photos: Abandoned Coiled Serpent Mound (Land Art) VI © 2025 by David Bernie is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
. You may download, share, and post the images under the condition that the works are attributed to the artist.
