I recently visited Chicago on a girl’s long weekend getaway. Hard to believe, but the three of us had never been to the Windy City before except for airport layovers. Starting with the taxi ride in, I was liking what I saw. And that is what Chicago is, a city to see. Wherever we went, whether planned or unplanned, we found a cultural gift. If you took the best of Boston and downsized New York, you’d make Chicago. We were blessed with gorgeous weather for sightseeing. I want to share my favorite four with you.
The Bean
The Bean greets you at the entrance to Millennium Park. It looks like a gigantic drop of liquid mercury but is actually made with stainless steel plates. “Cloud Gate” was designed by British artist Anish Kapoor in 2004. The arch is 12 feet high, and this baby weighs in at 110 tons. We had a terrific view of the city in the reflection of the sculpture.
The Bean or "Cloud Gate"
Side note one: When The Bean started becoming one of the most photographed sculptures in the city, city officials contemplated requiring permits to photograph it. That didn’t go over very well.
Bridge Sculpture
After a 90 minute architectural boat tour (I highly recommend), we climbed the stairs up to the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The sun was setting and lit up this sculpture called “Regeneration.” It represents the rebuilding of Chicago after the great fire of 1871. This is one of four sculptures done by Henry Hering and James Earle Fraser in 1928.
"The Regeneration"
Metal Sculpture
When we found this work by Picasso, we weren’t quite sure what it was. A woman? A horse? A dog? Picasso wanted to keep us all guessing because it is untitled. It is 50 feet tall and is made out of the same steel as the Daley Center building behind it. Picasso gave this as a gift to the people of Chicago. I find it interesting that he never actually visited Chicago or the US.
Side note two: In the 1967, when the sculpture was unveiled, it was initially scorned.
Picasso "Untitled"
The Windows
I saved my favorite for last. Inside the Art Institute of Chicago is the newly restored work by Marc Chagall called “America Windows.” It was originally installed in 1977 at the bicentennial in memory of Mayor Daley. If you are interested in learning how this piece was produced and restored, I found a great video on YouTube. Click the link. Chagall Link
Of Russian French descent, Chagall is an artist whose style is somewhat dreamlike. He said it best “Art seems to me to be above all a state of soul.” My photo below shows one of the six panels that comprise the entire “America Windows” artwork. It really touched my soul.
Chagall's America Windows
