Chicago - Millennium Park

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html

There is a lot more to Millennium Park than the Bean.

That is what you hear about, and the Cloud Gate sculpture is pretty cool. Still, there is a lot more there, and a lot more to do.

Our visit did not coincide with any of the entertainment available, so I can't really speak to that. If you are going to be in Chicago, it makes sense to check the schedule. We thought we would check it out Saturday evening, and with some of the delays we encountered it ended up being Tuesday afternoon. (It also could have made sense to combine it with our visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, as they are next to each other.)

We started out near the Crown Fountain, designed by Jaume Plensa. Digital faces shift and change on walls at either end, while there is a reflecting pool and fountain in between. This was a nice shady spot to sit and relax.

We passed by several stele by Jun Kaneko. Apparently the oblong statues were his, and were stele, and the figures were badgers, and also his. For some reason the city's photos all seem to focus on the badgers. I kind of like the stele better.

http://www.junkaneko.com/

This eventually led us to the Cloud Gate. I kind of like both names. The "Bean" fits the shape, and is a fun and funky name, but "Cloud Gate" evokes the sculpture's amazing reflective power, and how it pulls in the images around it and makes them part of the art. I thought it was pretty cool.

We then headed toward the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn. Having seen this one on the news, it felt like there was some historical significance, but also you can see how it would be useful for many events. It looks like a good place for an open air concert.

We then looped back in the direction of Michigan Avenue, coming out by Wrigley Square. Here there is a kind of a semi-circle of Doric columns that is a replica of an original peristyle that had stood there from 1917 to 1953. This is the Millennium Monument. I thought it was a nod to the influence of Classical Greek Architecture on the city's architectural history, but it is also a nod to the city's more recent past. It's really beautiful, and based on the size it makes an impression.

We did not see everything that they had to offer. With the theater, gardens, and bike options, there will always be things you can do. This is a great use of urban space, and remembering that it was a an industrial wasteland pretty recently is inspiring. We found the park system in general to be excellent.

And yes, you totally need to see the Bean.