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My Old Friend, Chicago
Valerie Atkisson | ArtBistro
October 12, 2009
A few weekends ago I took a trip to Chicago on my way to my high school reunion in Michigan. As a teenager, Chicago was Mecca to me and my friends when it came time to go shopping for back to school clothes. I didn’t just go shopping in Chicago but I also went to The Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art on a regular basis. Going to those museums was much like visiting old friends.
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As old friends can change, so can museums and cities. Most of my friends at the reunion had changed very little. It was like picking up where we had left off years ago. A few had changed, some even drastically. During my stopover in Chicago, I went downtown. I had not been there since the Millennium Park was built. I’d heard a lot about it and was excited to see what the fuss was about. I also had never been to the new Modern Wing at the Institute.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
The first venue I saw at Millennium Park was the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It was a wonderful outdoor amphitheater where live bands play every night of the summer. The sound was amazing. The space the lattice created was expansive, protective and yet fun.
RPolk
3 months ago
2 comments
Valerie,
I'd like to make one small correction to your wonderful piece on Chicago: The architect of the Bahai Temple in Wilmette was named Louis Bourgeois - not the contemporary artist Louise Bourgeois. As a life long Chicagoan and an architect, I thought you should know. I hope his doesn’t tarnish your life changing event.
Hungristartist
3 months ago
72 comments
awesome, thnx for the pics! That city has come a long way!
jeanneb
3 months ago
6 comments
Definitely made me miss Chicago. The Art Institute is one of my all time favorites. Love the Bean! Thanks for bringing us along.
martinpeeves
3 months ago
6 comments
saw TRICKY?
Redirk2
3 months ago
2 comments
It's easy to overlook, or underappreciate Chicago since I live about 70 miles west of it. We take our 3 year old son into the city 4-5 times a year and every time I am reminded how much I love it. It is an amazing place, thanks for reminding me of that.
snowboarderjohn
3 months ago
32 comments
My girlfriend and I were there last summer and the park was the highlight of our trip. I will never forget it. Great art, great people, great vibe. I truly LOVED Chicago!
K_E_Kensie
3 months ago
152 comments
the art is awe-inspiring, it really makes me want to go to chicago. the art world is fairly new to me so i had no idea chicago had so much artistry going on.
CurtMaryAnn
3 months ago
96 comments
Wonerful review, great photographs. Just like being there.