Images from the star-studded opening of the controversial Obama Presidential Center in Chicago

All living former presidents of the United States and a large number of artists and celebrities attended Barack Obama on Thursday (18/06) at the inauguration of his ambitious museum in Chicago.
The Obama Presidential Center, located in the south of Chicago, is an extensive 7.8 hectare complex that pays tribute to the first black president of the United States and that combines a modern architectural proposal with nature, art and history.
The event, which brought together a large crowd and lasted more than three hours, it was attended by several international authorities and leaders, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - who governed their countries during Obama's term -, as well as several celebrities.
The current president of the United States, Donald Trump, with whom Obama has a disagreement, was not invited to the inauguration.
The new Presidential Center, whose cost was US$850 million, is considered "the largest single investment in a century for this part of Chicago", according to Reuters.
Its high cost, the shape of its main tower and the potential gentrification it could represent for neighboring neighborhoods have generated criticism.
Symbol of a legacy
Traditionally, United States presidents inaugurate libraries after finishing their mandates.
Some serve as archives of documents and key objects from their government, while others have greater ambitions and function as museums and cultural centers.
"This is not It's a monument to the Obamas, gentlemen, it's a tribute to all those who made their journey possible," said Valerie Jarrett, former advisor and executive director of the Obama Foundation, in her opening speech.
Former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama celebrated the urban complex that serves as a tribute to the eight years the couple spent in the White House.
The complex combines elements of a museum and reading room with community center services, such as a playground, basketball court, recording studio and public library.
The couple chose the Jackson Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, near where their family home was before moving to the presidential office in Washington.
"For me, this center couldn't be anywhere else," Obama told visitors during the dedication ceremony.
"It's a show of gratitude, a recognition that much of what I value most I owe to the people of this city and the people of these surrounding neighborhoods."
Obama, who was the 44th U.S. president between 2009 and 2017, he said the center is based on the desire for community members and visitors to come together and create the change they seek.
That's why, he said, it was not designed as a "lifeless mausoleum." tears as she praised his personal and professional achievements, as well as his unwavering optimism and resilience.
"We want you to come here, put down your phones, talk, laugh and cry. Make new friends, get your hands dirty in the garden, put your baby in a swing in the play area, enjoy a romantic picnic," said the former first lady.
"Because that is the essence of democracy: being good neighbors, taking care of public spaces. How can we enjoy mutual companionship, freeing ourselves from the isolation and division that have infiltrated too much of our lives?" Selma, Alabama, on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march, is not a good choice.
In fact, it has been nicknamed "Obamalisk."
According to Reuters, architecture professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, T. Camille Martin-Thomsen, said: "It looks really impressive, grand and beautiful in the best possible sense."
And she added that she understands that, for some people, the height and scale of the museum may seem shocking in the first place. beginning, but believes that, over time, the majority will come to appreciate the bold design.
But the biggest controversy occurred among communities living in the neighborhoods close to the Obama Presidential Center.
Some citizens argue that rising housing prices and interest from investors are a sample of the gentrification they face.
According to local press reports, Shannon Bennett, executive director of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, said that real estate speculation in the area should be avoided.
"It's the same thing that always happens to our community. If we're not present, we're an easy target, and that's a problem," he said.
For others, however, the center offers potential economic growth by attracting visitors and boosting development in areas that have been lagging.
Organizers have stated that they expect the Obama Presidential Center, most of which will be open to the public free of charge, to attract between 750,000 and 1 million visitors a year.
Musical celebration
The opening also included performances by a variety of artists, including Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Common, Marc Anthony, Bono and The Edge, from U2, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder.
Rock legend and local hero Eddie Vedder, leader of Pearl Jam, born in Illinois, performed an original song he composed with young people from the Guitars Over Guns program.
Attendees expressed their gratitude to the Obamas for building the center on the south side of Chicago.
Barack Obama, the first black person in the White House

Source: G1