Chicago Symposium, Part 2: Art & Artifacts

7/28/17 Sue, the T-Rex, at the Field Museum

From what I knew of Chicago (I had visited a couple of decades ago and studied Internet photos the past year in preparation for the symposium), I figured architecture would be the dominant subject matter of my sketches, and yesterday’s post certainly indicates that. What I didn’t expect was the amazing richness in public art seen on Chicago streets and in parks. I sketched so much of it, in fact, that it warranted its own blog post here. 

Although I didn’t get around to the Art Institute, which I regret (there’s never enough time for everything I want to do), I did make a trip to the Field Museum of natural history, where I knew Lapin was teaching his workshop. Although I didn’t eavesdrop on his instructions (I didn’t want to look like I was trying to sneak into his workshop!), I voyeuristically included him and a few of his students in my sketch of Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world.

7/26/17 Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (affectionately known as "the Bean") at Millenium Park

7/26/17 One of a pair of lions guarding the entrance of the Art Institute.

7/27/17 Calder's Flamingo

7/27/17 Crown Fountain at Millenium Park

Seward Johnson's sculpture "Return Visit" in Pioneer Center

Calder's "Flying Dragon" outside the Art Institute

7/29/17 General Logan's memorial at Grant's Park

7/27/17 "The Bowman" on Congress Parkway

7/28/17 Pterandodon longiceps model at the Field Museum

Calder's Flamingo

Mandatory selfie at the Bean!

Selfie with Sue

Sketching the skyline reflected in the Bean