Good gracious–PENSIEVE almost sounds like a travel blog these days! But school is out, my job is ending, and I'd be crazy not to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities! When we realized our two oldest were at camp the same week our youngest was invited to the mountains, my husband and I looked at each other and seized the moment–we threw a dart, it landed in Chicago…and a few mouse clicks later, Travelocity was our best friend. Though I could write a squillion words about our whirl-wind adventure, I'll let a few pictures do (most of) the talking.
Let's start with sculptures & structures ~
EYE see you
Slated to open officially today in Pritzker Park, this ocular three-story art-oddity is multi-media artist Tony Tasset's latest vision, commissioned by the Chicago Loop Alliance. EYE is constructed of interconnected plates made of steel-reinforced fiberglass and I'm certain this is reason kids check under their beds at night.
106 seemingly headless bodies by artist Magdalena Abakanowicz wander around Grant Park. It felt like a giant cast iron leg forest.
**Someone** needs a pedicure…!
American Dental Association Headquarters. Chicago native Joseph J. O'Connell was commissioned by the ADA in 1964 to create a sculpture "said to epitomize the family of man and reflect the concern for humankind that is involved in the practice of dentistry." Daddy weighs in at 8,000 pounds, mama at 5,000 and child is only 3,000; each piece is over twice the height of life-size.
The Big Noodle
The Big Noodle, Navy Pier. Try as I might, I could find no information on the Big Noodle; all I know is it looks like a big smiley face, which in turn, put one on my face. Which I guess means, yes indeed, I do love it.
Children in a Park
Entrance of Navy Pier. Pure bronzed whimsey! I tried to search info on this sculpture and couldn't find the artist or details. Holla if you know anything!
Dr. Bob Hartley in Session
Entrance of Navy Pier. Commissioned by TV Land to pay homage to The Bob Newhart Show, set in Chicago. Two more things: that cup in the background? Didn't see it then, bugging the heck outta me now! The seat was wet so I'm barely sitting on the edge; it was too hot to walk around with the dreaded wetbutt!
Veteran's Memorial
North end of Soldier's Field overlooking Field Museum. The front of the memorial honors several branches of the military and their families, and the back includes a John F. Kennedy inscription {"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."}
A few more that caught my eye; since I didn't get their names, let's call them Beauty and Beast. You can decide which is which–
Found somewhere along The Magnificent Mile, this little fella, about knee-high and all alone, was spotted storefront, but I can't recall where now…. I do recall wondering "Why?"
Her name might be Princess Euphoria, Goddess of Flight or Wonder Woman on a broom. I found her wandering around the entrance to Grant Park, too.
Got a favorite? Shout it out! Or tell me what I missed!
Next in my Chicago photo series, "Taste of Chicago". It will be delicious ;).
Love Chi-town and wanna see more NOW? Check out my Flickr sets here and here!
Wow! You covered a lot of ground! And I had no idea there was so much art around–I think I just overlook it. Just one question . . . where’s the bean??? 🙂
Can’t wait for the food reviews. Mmmmm.
Oh, sorry, P.S. . . . that eye is totally creepy. I hope they get rid of it soon.
Well I stay an hour from the city of Chicago and now i’m like WOW! She’s seen stuff I haven’t even seen. I mean I grew up here LoL. Looks like you enjoyed yourself. A bit of inspiration may be coming on….. 😉
I love Chicago! Have you eaten at Ed Debevic’s? The food is average but the experience is memorable. Waiters dance on counters, offer rude comments to customers and rebuke parents for not controlling unruly children. But they had meatloaf, and that is what mattered to me.
So love Chicago! Love your captions , especially **Someone** needs a pedicure…!. I do!
(I know that I’m about a year-and-a-half too late for this comment to matter)
The last sculpture, the “wonder woman on a broom” (lol!) is actually named “Madalene”, and was created by Chicago sculptor Dessa Kirk.
The reason that it caught my eye is because Ms. Kirk actually created a sister sculpture for Madalene, named “Eos”, for my hometown. I’d seen the two sculptures independently several times before, but never realized that they were related!
Just thought I’d share…
I realize that I’m about a year and a half too late, but I had to share.
The last sculpture, or “Wonder Woman on a broom” (lol!) is actually named Madalene, and was created by Chicago sculptor Dessa Kirk. The reason that I know this is because the artist actually created a nearly-identical sister-sculpture, named Eos, which is displayed in my hometown. I had seen the sculptures independently many times, but never realized that they were related!
Just thought I’d share!