There it was! The giant bean that Chicago is very known for. Loved that it was accessible and ADA…read morefriendly so everyone could enjoy it. We came early on a Monday to beat the crowds. The later it got, the more people showed up. I was lucky to snap this photo before more people started to come in. Really cool sight to see. It's a giant mirror and has two sides, the park side and the city reflection side. So the view from both and don't forget to check out the middle.

Cloud Gate, otherwise known as the Bean, sits in the middle of Millennium Park in downtown Chicago…read moreand is one of those public art installations that consistently surprises people who encounter it for the first time despite being one of the most photographed objects in the city. I walked up to a seamless polished stainless steel form that reflects everything around it without a single visible seam or joint across its entire surface. That engineering achievement alone is worth appreciating before I even started engaging with what the reflections actually do. The reflections are the experience. I watched the Chicago skyline curve and distort across the surface in a way that shifted constantly depending on where I was standing, and walking slowly around the perimeter gave me a different composition every few steps. Walking underneath the concave arch in the center, which locals call the omphalos, produced a funhouse mirror effect that reflected me and everyone else from overhead in a way that was consistently disorienting and engaging regardless of how many times I have seen it. On a clear day with blue sky the effect was particularly strong, with the skyline wrapping around the sculpture against a bright background. On overcast days the palette shifts toward silver and grey and produces its own version of the thing. Admission is free and the park is open and accessible, which made Cloud Gate an easy addition to my Chicago itinerary without any planning required. It gets crowded, particularly on weekends and during summer, and the area immediately around the sculpture fills with people taking photos throughout the day. Early morning visits before the crowds build give you a more relaxed experience and better light for photography. It is one of the few landmarks in any city that genuinely lives up to what people say about it.

How now bronze cow…read more.. Peter Hanig, a shoe retailer, saw an exhibit of decorated cows in Zurich and brought the idea home to Chicago. This sparked a national and international trend of placing painted sculptures in cities incorporating a wide range of themes including cows and boots in Houston, DNA double helix sculptures in London, baby elephants on parade in Copenhagen (which were amazing to see), globes in Tel Aviv and 500 shoes in Istanbul. This sculpture, nicknamed "In Remembrance of Things Past," is a nod to the original Chicago CowParade held in 1999. If you look closely, you can see a reflection of the Water Tower in the right eye and the Untitled Picasso sculpture in the left. She stands permanently guarding the Chicago Cultural Center across from Millennium Park today. For more information, scan the Statue Stories Chicago QR code at your visit.

The Bronze Cow stands alone outside the Chicago Cultural Center on Washington Street. She is part…read moreof Chicago's Cultural History of Artists that designed Fiberglass Cow Statues that were placed throughout the City of Chicago in an effort to support the unification of citizens through art in public spaces. This Bronze Cow was a gift to all Chicagoans and today tells the story and history of The Cow Exhibit in 1999. Listen via your telephone to the story of The Bronze Cow- You can hear the story of The Bronze Cow by scanning the QR Code and listening to it on your cellular telephone. 2019-The Cows Come Home Retrospective along The Mag Mile- Currently there is a retrospective of the Cow Exhibition called "The Cows Come Home" located along the Magnificent Mile (Summer 2019) celebrating the artists works. My Favorite-"The Swiss Cheese Cow"- My favorites are the cows in former Mayor Jane Byrne's Plaza/Park located outside the old Water Tower. I love the "Swiss Cheese" Cow. Really creative! FYI-What exactly is a "cow?" "A cow is a female that has had at least one calf. A heifer is a female that has not yet had a calf; she becomes a cow after her first calf is born. A bull is a male that is able to breed. A steer is a male that has been castrated and is not able to breed." Source: Google Search 'What sex are cows?" https://www.google.com

Almost walked past this. Opposite side of The Riverwalk. Great detail. Great background view of…read moreChicago skyline! Worth the stop!

This is an amazing piece of work by Taiwanese Artist and Sculptor Ju Ming. It is located in the…read moreAMA Plaza and outdoor seating is offered for individuals to sit and admire and discuss the sculpture of the eleven men cast in Bronze who are dressed in business suits, trench coats and some with umbrellas...obviously as if they were on their way to work in a modern city environment. Upon a close-up inspection recently, I noticed that the eyes were not pronounced and that they seem to be expressionless as the grayness of their cast figures suggest. Almost as if it was just another day going through the same routine- wake up, go to work, eat, sleep---REPEAT. It reminds me in a way of Andy Warhol's Campbells Soup Can-we live from one meal to the next. About the Artist: Ju Ming (1938-) was originally trained as a woodcarver; however, his work evolved into sculpting in bronze in addition to other materials such as styrofoam, stainless steel as well as other mediums. He became well known in Taiwan during the 1970s and later in 1983 in New York City when he had individual exhibition of Living World Series: A Pair of Classical People at the Max Hutchinson Gallery. This piece in particular, is regarded as one of the most important works among the early production of the Living World Series. Ming's Living World Series appears or suggests that his work may evolve from his perception of the world around him; however, he has been quoted as saying that there is no one interpretation or set interpretation designated in his intention to create his sculptures. There are other parts of The Living World Series including "Imprisonment"which has drawn attention to his style of thought provoking sculpture. FYI-This Public Piece of art was purchased by Eagle Holdings, which is the parent group of the Langham Hospitality Group.

Currently off view whilst renovations are being done on the Chase Tower. Possibly for lat next year…read moreviewing.

I really enjoy Chagall. The America Windows are my favorite exhibit in the Art Institute; my…read moreworkplace has reproductions of some of his works, and then there's The Four Seasons. It certainly helps too that I love murals and mosaics. It depicts the seasons in Chicago, which truly is a city that can experience them all (although I feel like spring and sometimes fall get the short shrift). This work was made in Europe and shipped here for installation, which I was surprised to learn. It also continued to be modified by Chagall after the installation, with bits of brick from Chicago also added at times to make it even more native to this space. It's one of a kind, and we're fortunate to have so much public art by world-reknown artists littered about our downtown.

This stretch of murals, also called the B_Line, is an ongoing work. It was created in 1971--and…read moreyes, you heard that correctly; it's over 50 years old. Ricardo Alonzo was an SAIC graduate and started the project with an environmental focus, but over time they have evolved. The organization that assumed responsibility for murals selects artists from around the world to paint them, and flies them out here to create their work. While most of the original murals from 50 years ago have faded away with time, they try to preserve what they can and create new art when they can't. It's an interesting stretch of about a mile, and is not a city project. The organization has an arrangement in perpetuity with the railroad for which the embankment is built. It will be interesting to see how this evolves and what new works are created.

These murals make a reason to visit in an otherwise bland elevated rail infrastructure,separating…read morethe Fulton market neighborhood. Each segment, uniquely different, are an homage to the city and its people. Colorful and vibrant, it paints a picture of unique individualism and whimsy countering a gentrifying area of the city.

Fun stroll [Chicago IL]…read more Just a short distance from the Millennium Park is this cool 925-foot-long winding pedestrian bridge in the Loop community area. This was fun to walk along and took us to another park at the end, the Maggie Daley Park. Interesting and cool piece of engineering looking like a giant silver snake. The stainless steel sheet looks beautiful shimmering in the sun. Aside from the Cloud Gate, the BP Pedestrian Bridge is another one of Millennium Park's popular attractions drawing large crowds of visitors including us! We were able to see views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan, Historic Michigan Boulevard District, and Grant Park. If you're wondering what the BP stands for in its name it is named after the energy firm (formerly called British Petroleum) who donated a large sum to the project. Review #3824

Gehry designed this 925 ft long pedestrian bridge that spans Columbus Drives with skyline views &…read morethe Nichols Bridgeway arches from the park to the Art Institute's sculpture terrace. Named for energy firm BP, which donated $5 million toward its construction, it is the first Gehry-designed bridge to have been completed. BP Bridge is described as snakelike because of its curving form.

A neat small place to learn about Chicago architecture and it's development, with short…read more timelines on the walls and miniature model of the city and another ofWrigley Field. I bought a perfect, sturdy canvas bag labeled Chicago Architecture Center.

Entry to the museum is only five dollars if you show them your ticket from the First Lady boat…read moretour. The ground floor has a short eight minute clip with information about the city. There is also a great display of the city as well as a Wrigley ballpark exhibit. Unfortunately, the upstairs is currently being renovated, so there was not a lot to see this trip. They have a great gift shop.

I asked him to print a poster on glossy paper, and the quality turned out excellent. The price was…read morethe lowest I could find in Chicago, which was a great bonus. He even replied to my email over the weekend, which I really appreciated. Highly recommended!

Highly recommended. The business made me static-cling vinyl race car number decals. They came out…read moreperfect, within the tight deadline I needed, at a very reasonable price, and pickup time was super flexible.

You will find this very intriguing statue in Daley Plaza. There is metered street parking and lots…read moreof parking garages available within a reason able walking distance, but most people viewing this statue will be passers by on their way to another destination. The statue is the work of Pablo Picasso, yes, that Picasso, who created the piece in 1967. It is made of solid steel and weighs 162 tons. It stands 50 feet tall. The abstract sculpture is intended to resemble the head of Picasso's Afghan hound. This is an iconic piece that just draws your attention. I find it interesting that Picasso is known for his paintings, but was also a decent sculpture in his own right. I really like this piece. I acknowledge that it is not a destination piece, but it is still worth a peek if you are in the area.

This statue has no official name, but it's called The Picasso because the man himself created it…read more I'm not a fan of Picasso, I'll say that straightaway. However it's quite a boon that Chicago was able to get an artist of his magnitude to design a sculpture in our great city, in a time when public art was mostly limited to historical figures. I do think it's fun that Picasso said that although he doesn't do commissions, he had the opportunity to do a project for the two great gangster cities (apparently the other was Marseilles). The Picasso doesn't do much for me as a piece of artwork, but I do understand the significance of the work and of the artist. And it's an easy landmark for visitors or meeting with friends. And it's an iconic Chicago landmark so that alone makes it special.