Tag Archives: Chicago

Exploring Chicago’s Art Institute: Part 1

Chicago, Travel, , , ,
Mother and Child

Mother and Child

As mentioned earlier, my mid-year resolution was to properly explore Chicago’s Art Institute. I am slowly making progress. Phase one was the Modern Wing, which I fully explored last week:

  • Special Exhibitions (182-184) – Visited
  • Photography (188) – Visited
  • Film Video and New Media (186) – Visited
  • Architecture and Design (283-286) – Visited
  • Contemporary Art 1945-1960 (289) – Visited
  • Contemporary Art After 1960 (288, 291-299) – Visited
  • European Modern Art 1900 – 1950 (389-399) – Visited
  • Contemporary Sculpture – Visited
The Eventuality of Destiny

The Eventuality of Destiny

From my perspective, the third-floor gallery “European Modern Art 1900 – 1950” was the one that I enjoyed the most. There is a profusion of art there, but just enough space and light to prevent everything overlapping and distracting. This will probably be the gallery that I return to most.

Clown Torture

Clown Torture

Whilst there, I did see a school group (kids about seven or eight years in age) mistake Bruce Nauman’s “Clown Torture” for something they would enjoy. They soon left, with a chastened school guide. Plenty of nightmare material…

Waka onna (young woman) No Mask

Waka onna (young woman) No Mask

This week, I started to work my way through the “non-modern” museum. Visited the lower levels, and started on some of the galleries on the first level:

  • Lower Level
    • Photography (1-4, 10) – Visited
    • Thorne Miniature Rooms (11) – Visited
    • Paperweights (15) – Visited
    • Architecture and Design (24) – Visited
  • First Level
    • Prints and Drawings (124-127)
    • Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art (140-143)
    • Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art (101–109, 130-135) – Visited
    • Indian Art of the Americas (136) – Visited
    • African Art – Visited
    • American Decorative Arts 1920–1970 (162)
    • Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art (150-154)
    • American Art before 1900 (161-179)
    • Chagall’s America Windows (144)
    • Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
  • Second Level
    • Chicago Architecture (200)
    • European Art before 1900 (201–248)
    • American Folk Art (227)
    • European Decorative Arts (231-234)
    • Arms and Armor (235-237)
    • Renaissance Jewelry (237)
    • Impressionism (225-226, 201, 240-243)
    • American Modern Art 1900-1950 (261-265, 271-273)
    • Special Exhibitions (Regenstein Hall)

 

Pedway Exploring: Part 7

Chicago, Travel, , , , , ,
Merchandise Mart Station

Merchandise Mart Station

Monday was the final official day of exploring The Pedway. Now that I have a good grasp of where the underground/overground passages and pathways go, I will be sure to walk The Pedway as part of my regular travels through Chicago  – and may discover additional features along the way. I believe there are some segments that are private, connecting buildings and businesses that are no longer open to the general public.

Stairs to Wells Street

Stairs to Wells Street

I began this leg of the tour by stopping off on the Brown Line at the Merchandise Mart stop. Here the Pedway options are either a staircase to the Wells Street, or an enclosed walkway across the road to Apparel Mart.

The Loop 97.9

The Loop 97.9

The Loop 97.9

The Loop 97.9

I took the enclosed walkway. Walking through Merchandise Mart you pass a hub of fast food options to the north, but more interestingly there are radio stations along the passageway that runs east-west. The Loop 97.9 has its studio here, and you can peer in through the windows.

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

A bridge spans North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart, where weary travelers can check-in to Holiday Inn, and where The Chicago Sun-Times has its offices (after vacating the spot where the Trump Tower was built.

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart

The bridge has some pleasant views of the river, but unless you live or work in the area there is little reason to venture far to this segment of The Pedway.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Sun-Times

Well, my little project is over. I am going to revisit my steps over the next couple of weeks and check off the segments based on Will Vaughn’s data:

Segment ID Name Length (ft.) Visted
1 Renassance Hotel Concourse 1956
2 Aon Center – Fairmont Hotel Walkway 184
3 Aon Center – Lakeshore Athletic Club Concourse 538
4 Aon Centre Lobbies 433
5 Apparel Center Ground Level Walkway 733
6 Apparel Center Upper Level Walkway 271
7 Bc / Bs – Monroe Garage & Grant Park Concourse 1182
8 Chase Tower Ground Level Concourse 280
9 Chase Tower Lower Level Concourse 935
10 Chicago Title & Trust Center Walkway 270
11 City Hall – 120 North Lasalle Walkway 283
12 City Hall & County – Cultural Center Concourse 2836
13 City Hall & County – Thompson Center Walkway 247
14 City Hall & County Building Hallways 682
15 Daley Plaza – Brunswick Building Concourse 813
16 Fairmont Hotel – Park Millennium Concourse 833
17 Garland Court – R.R.Donnelley Walkway 280
18 Grant Park South Parking Walkway 921
19 Jackson CTA Subway Station Connector 852
20 James R. Thompson Center Ground Level Concourse 928
21 James R. Thompson Center Lower Level Concourse 779
22 Macy’s – 25 E Washington Concourse 630
23 Merchandise Mart Ground Level Concourse 2079
24 Merchandise Mart Upper Level Concourse 1119
25 Metra Millennium Park Station Concourse 1660
26 Metra Van Buren Station Walkway 748
27 Michigan Plaza – Illinois Center Concourse 920
28 Michigan Plaza Walkway 691
29 Millennium & N Grant Park Garage Walkway 1814
30 N Leo Burnett – S Leo Burnett Walkway 385
31 Ogilvie Ground Level Concourse 845
32 Ogilvie Metra Station 1723
33 Ogilvie Upper Level – 2 Riverside Concourse 927
34 One Illinois Center – Columbus Plaza Concourse 855
35 One Illinois Center – Two Illinois Center Walkway 202
36 Prudential Plaza – Aon Centre Concourse 665
37 Renaissance Hotel Walkway 276
38 Smurfit Stone Walkway 90
39 Thompson Center – Concourse At 203 Walkway 203
40 Three Bank One Plaza – 33 N Dearborn Concourse 879
41 Three Illinois Center – Swiss Hotel Concourse 755
42 Two Illinois – Three Illinois Concourse 990
43 Two Illinois Center – Hyatt Regency Walkway 201
44 Two Prudential Plaza Concourses 278

For those who want to explore, here are some resources that I picked up along the way: