Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Grant Park: Cancer Survivors Garden



Information sourced from the city of Chicago Official Tourism Site, click here ..

After Richard A. Bloch, co-founder of H & R Block, Inc. survived what he had been told was "terminal" lung cancer, he established a foundation to help others fight and recover from cancer. The foundation has given gifts to create Cancer Survivor's parks and gardens throughout the nation. When the foundation offered such a gift to the Chicago Park District in the 1990s, designers Miriam Gusevitch, Julie Gross, and Dan Purciarello developed a scheme specifically for its site on the northeast side of Grant Park.
Location: Randolph St. & Harbor Dr.,Chicago, IL 60601 ..



The garden includes two forty-foot tall granite columns that had been salvaged when Chicago's 1905 Federal Building was razed. The elegant columns flank an open metal pavilion and are on axis with the classical columns of the Field Museum.


The garden has a beautiful view of the Field Museum of Natual History to the south.


For more on ...
# Gardens and art installations in the Grant Park .. click here

Friday, August 21, 2009

Temporary Exhibit: Millennium Park [Have No Narrow Perspective - by Identical twin artists - Ryan and Trevor Oakes]





Have No Narrow Perspective ..
Artists: Identical twin artists .. Ryan and Trevor Oakes ..
Location: originally installed in Millennium Park in May, 2008 ..
It is now on display at O’Hare International Airport, in Terminal 2 ..


The Oak twins have developed a remarkable new method for tracing the world before them onto a curved surface, completely freehand and by eye alone. They used their concave drawing method to produce the Cloud Gate sculpture engraved onto a six-by-six foot metal armature, with the explanation of their technique inscribed in the base.


These photos were taken long back, in April, 2009 ... when this piece was still in the Millennium Park .. Now it's on display at O’Hare International Airport, Terminal 2 ..

For more on ...
# Gardens and art installations in the Grant Park [which includes the Millennium Park .. click here

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Burnham Pavilion: UNStudio







The Burnham Pavilion ..
By: UNStudio .. Ben van Berkel
Location: Millennium Park ..
The Burnham Pavilions commemorate the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago. Two such pavilions are commissioned in the Millennium Park ..
# For information on the commission of these pavilions .. click here ..
# For information on the other pavilion by Zaha Hadid .. click here ..
The pavilions are temporary: June 19, 2009 to October 31, 2009 ..
However there was a delay the Zaha's pavilion, which opened on August 4, 2009.
Dont know if it was good planning or lucky stars that UNStudio's pavilion was in front of Zaha's pavilion, or the delayed construction Zaha's would have totally robbed the inviting nature of this one ...

Here's from the architect himself ..
"The UNStudio Burnham Pavilion relates to diverse city contexts, programs and scales. It invites people to gather, walk around and through and to explore and observe. The pavilion is sculptural, highly accessible and functions as an urban activator" ...
- Ben van Berkel ..





The marker reads ..
Just as a movie camera attempts to frame and capture one story out of a choice of many, so the Burnham Pavilion by UNStudio seeks to surprise us with various views of the skyline. While inside the pavilion the openings in the ceiling function as frames that direct our attention outward, towards the texture and cinematic character of the city.

UNStudio principal Ben van Berkel says the design of the pavilion was influenced by a trip to Chicago as a teenager where he observed the cantilevered ceiling and roof eaves of Frank Lloyd Wright's Roobie House. The pavilions' two horizontal plains show this influence. The edges of the lower of the two planes - the pavilion's floor - act as benches, inviting rest and interaction.

To emphasise the size and geometry of the building at night, a sophisticated interactive lighting system is built into the floor. In response to visitor activity, the light varies in color and intensity. chicago artist Daniel Sauter chose the color scheme for the lighting design from the color palette used in the watercolor illustrations from the 1909 Burnham Plan.


Steel Structure ..
Although the structure appears light and airy, the frame of the UNStudio Burnham Pavilion receives its support and shape from a strong skeleton of steel. The steel was sponsored by ArcelorMittal, the world's leading steel producer which has facilities in more than 60 countries and its North American headquarters in Chicago.

The pavilion's steel foundation sustains intricately designed plywood ribs that are covered with plywood skin and coated with reflective paint. The steel in this pavilion will be recycled at the end of the pavilion exhibition. Steel is the most recycled material in the world with more than 250 million tons recycled each year.



About UNStudio's Ben van Berkel ...
Ben van Berkel, a cofounder of UNStudio, is a rising star of inventive archtecture with a special interest in the integration of construction and archtecture. Founded in 1988, UNStudio is a network of architects, engineers, graphic designers and technical experts who work together and take a fresh, wide-ranging approach to design ..

The Burnham Pavilion: Zaha Hadid





The Burnham Pavilion ..
Architect: Zaha Hadid
Location: Millennium Park ..
The Burnham Pavilions commemorate the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago. Two such pavilions are commissioned in the Millennium Park
# For information on the commission of these pavilions .. click here ..
# For information on the other pavilion by UNStudio .. click here ..

The pavilions are temporary: June 19, 2009 to October 31, 2009 ..
However there was a delay the Zaha's pavilion, which opened on August 4, 2009.

From the architect herself ..
"Superimpositions of spatial structures with hidden traces of Burnham's organizational system create unexpected results in the Burnham Pavilion. By using methods of overlaying, complexity is built up and inscribed in the structure ."
- Zahan Hadid ..




I was not at all impressed ...
- I had high expectations, with all the publicity it got ..
- It was way behind schedule [seven weeks late] .. In fact the tent covered construction site contributed to raising my expectations. But when I finally saw the complete work, it was a disappointment! In fact I had once seen it's metal skeleton, and that, I thought was impressive ..
- There was no place to sit and relax on the pavilion .. In fact from the UNStudio pavilion one could see the Zaha pavilion very clearly .. but not the vice-versa ..
- Maybe, it's juxtaposition to a sturdy, much more inviting UNStudio pavilion did not help either. I saw many kids playing on the UNStudio pavilion, whereas in this one the interaction seemed to be missing ...
- The proclaimed play of light and space was not obvious, at least to me ..
Maybe a night-time visit might change my views!!




The structural ribs..


The marker informs ...
Zaha Hadid's designs have the power to reinterpret and invigorate our understanding of what a building or a cityscape can be. Her fluid structures evolve from experimentations with cutting-edge technologies to reinterpret space itself.

Examining Burnham's drawings in the "Plan of Chicago", Hadid was struck by how the city's diagonal streets open up the otherwise rigid street grids. Lengthening the drawn line of one of the diagonals, she marked where the street would fall if extended into Millennium Park. The design for the Burnham Pavilion incorporated that line, with the structural ribs and openings in the roof parallel to an imaginary extension of a diagonal street. The result is Hadid's sinuous pavilion that plays with shadow, light and space.

The outer and inner shells of the Hadid Burnham pavilion is made up of fabric stretched tightly over aluminium ribs. The media installation inside by artist Thomas Gray projects onto the fabric, appearing different at various times of day and night, as the interplay of light and shadow changes. The film reflects Chicago's transformation and includes the voices of people throughout the Chicago region sharing visions of the future.

The pavilion is made of totally recyclable materials and can be dismantled and reinstalled elsewhere after the centennial ...


About Zaha Hadid ..
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, zaha Hadid was passionate about mathematics from an early age. She moved to London in the mid-1970's where she started her architectural practice and continues it today. In 2004, Hadid became the first woman and the youngest architect so far to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. In 2006, she was honored with a 30-year retrospective exhibition of her work in Giggenheim Museum in New York ..

* Remark .. This is exactly the kind of writing that raises expectations!

The Burnham Pavilions





# Top image: Burnham Pavilion - By UNStudio [Ben van Berkel].. click here ..
# Bottom image: Burnham Pavilion - By Zaha Hadid .. click here ..

The Burnham Pavilions ..
Inspiring bold plans and big dreams.

The Burnham Pavilions commemorate the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago. In one inspirational document - with magnificent illustrations, progressive thinking and eloquent prose - Burnham and co-author Edward Bennett forever changed the face of Chicago and its surrounding communities. The Plan of Chicago and the subsequent campaign to garner support for the Plan led to creation of the city's 26-mile long chain of lakefront parks, the double tiers of Wacker Drive, development of North Michigan Avenue, and the creation of regional forest preserves. Internationally the Plan is viewed today as one of the most significant and influential urban plans ever produced.

The Burnham Pavilions were commissioned with the hope that their beauty and vibrancy will inspire each visitor to have the courage to cultivate big dreams and bold plans for yourself, your community and the world we all share. They provide a focal point for a year-long program of Centennial events taking place throughout the region.

Because Burnham and Bennett turned to European cities to provide fresh insight for the Plan of Chicago, the pavilions are designed by two different European architects, who bring their talents and perspectives to Chicago for the first time. The temporary installation emulates Daniel Burnham's 1893 achievement in helping create the "White City" at the World's Columbian Exposition. Just as the impressive buildings from the World's Fair vanished by winter, so too, will these pavilions disappear after October 31.

Planning in the Chicago region didn't stop after Burnham. Many decades of subsequent plans have moulded the metropolis we know today. In the 21st century the region is continuing its legacy of visionary planning, with commitment and participation of those who live here. We can help create our shared future, making a difference for ourselves, our grandchildren, and for millions of others.

The Chicago Community Trust, our regions community foundation, provided leadership funding for the Burnham Plan Centennial. The Trust is joined as a founding sponsor by Elizabeth Morse and Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Fund...

The Good Stew



Last week I was at the O'Hare Airport, and this funky interpretation of Picasso's Untitled sculpture caught my attention!!! I love it!! Then I noticed more public art inspired murals ... I had to photograph them, so here are the images ..



The Good Stew ..
Created by artists of Gallery 37 ..
Lead artists: Gladys Nilsson, Tod parola, Spencer Dormitze ..
Description: Two part murals .. painted in acrylic, with a combined length of 144 feet ..
Location: O'Hare International Airport ..
Parking tunnel of [walkway connecting terminals with the parking garage and train station] ..

These murals are part of Arts in Action at O'Hare International Airport ... The Chicago Airport System partners Chicago's arts community by featuring more than 30 exhibits of fine arts, sculptures, live music performances and the original artworks of some of Chicago artists.

The Good Stew .. features Chicagoans throughout the city are seen alongside familiar public artworks nested among a vibrant and lively cityscape ..
How many of the public artworks featuring here, do you recognize ??? ..







The Good Stew - II
There were two panels of paintings, and although these were not classified as I and II .. for the sake of convenience I've seperated the images on different panels ..







How many public artworks do you recognize from these paintings ??? ..
If you are from Chicago, you would instantly recognize all!
Hopefully!!
However if you are a visitor .. I'm posting images of the artworks that inspired these paintings ... "The Good Stew" .. continued .. click here ..

The Good Stew.. continued ...

Continued from the above post ... "The Good Stew" .. click here ..

















# Untitled .. [ By Picasso ] ... click here ..
# The Lions .. [ By Edward Kemeys] .. click here ..
# Flamingo .. [By Alexander Calder]... click here ..
# The Bowman and The Spearman .. [ By Ivan Mestrovic] ...
# Ulysses S. Grant Memorial .. [ By Louis Rebisso] .. click here ..
# Monument with standing beast .. [ By Jean Dubuffet] .. click here ..
# Chicago .. [By Joan Miro] .. click here ..
# Batcolum .. [By Claes Oldenburg] .. click here ..

Monday, August 17, 2009

2009: Temporary Exhibit - Magnificient Mile [ City Beautiful Art Installations - Part I]



City Beautiful Art Installations .. is actually about sculptures on the Magnificient Mile ... Every spring, The Magnificent Mile celebrates the bloom of hundreds of thousands of vibrant tulips. Alongside there are art installations in the flower-beds ... These are temporary and removed in the winter season .. This year the theme for the art installations was the City Beautiful Movement, that focused upon creating harmony, symmetry and beauty within the urban environment ..
There were six installations on the west side of the Magnificient Mile ..
I'm splitting the coverage in two parts ..
Part - I .. includes ..
# Fragments in harmony - By Lucien Lagrange ..
# Green Revolution: FILL - By Urban Works ..
# Untitled - By Perkins + Will ..

Part - II includes .. click here ..
# Fabric of City Life: A Reflection on The Emerald Necklace - By OWP/P ..
# Kaleidoscope - By VOA Associates ...
# The 1909 Plan of Chicago: Centennial Celebration - By Clarence David & Company





Fragments in harmony ..
By - Lucien Lagrange ..
Location: 401 N. Michigan Avenue ..
The marker reads ...
Daniel Burnham considered the development of Michigan Avenue into one of Chicago's great throughfares essential to the creation of a business center and a cohesive city plan. The emphasis on procession and movement of the individual are driving elements in his design. In the spirit of Burnham LLA's design for Tulips on the Magnificient Mile seeks to create a frame-like object that is dictated by the procession along the east sidewalk of Michigan Avenue. The sculpture perfectly frames Bennett's Bridge tower at the southwest corner of the Michigan Avenue bridge, when the viewer finds the intended sight line. The piece is a snapshot of modern day Chicago ..





Green Revolution: FILL ..
By - Urban Works .
Location: at 540 N. Michigan Avenue ..
The marker reads ..
Our sculpture is comprised of a series of free standing transparent containers that accept fill - defined as objects that are typically disposed. The sculpture will change over time -more time on North Michigan Avenue means more fill. It is out intent that this sculpture will record the [quiet] accumulation of small items that could be considered waste - that in a single moment does not seem significant but over time begins to occupy considerable space. We hope a walk past our piece will provoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, while uncovering beauty in these everyday items. Our ultimate goal is to create awareness in all of us and, as a result, help us thik twice before disposing of objects that could instead be reused and creatively given another life as new materials...






Untitled ..
By - Perkins + Will ..
Location: 700 N. Michigan Avenue ..
The marker reads ...
Our intention is to have the guests of The Magnificent Mile engage and interact with the architectural sculpture through touch and sound. The sculpture makes the wind visible by swaying and chiming in the breeze, and the pedestrians can touch the sculpture to activate it. Daniel Burnham’s mapping of the park system in Chicago is displayed through the reflective graphics on the sculpture.

RELATED LINKS..
# City Beautiful Art Installations - I ..click here .
# City Beautiful Art Installations - II .. click here.