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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v07n20)
And In The OTHER Cultural Districts... - A step outside of the Cultural Districts - Casey Jo Ailes
posted: Oct. 01, 2010

And In The Cultural Districts header

A step outside of the Cultural Districts
On Saturday September 11th, 2010, along with my family, I ventured up to the windy city for day of sight seeing, shopping and devouring the best pizza on the planet. After stepping off the commuter train and finding ourselves in the heart of Chicago just outside Millennium Park we decided to wander through the park and see what was going on in the gardens. Being one of the city's most popular destinations, it was easy to see why this park would attract not only tourists, but residents who desire a somewhat quiet spot to step away from the over stimulation of the city and kick back on the grassy lawn. This was my first visit to this park since many of the new attractions have been installed and we had decided in advance to find the "Cloud Gate" created by British artist Anish Kapoor. "Cloud Gate" or as many residents have been calling it, the bean, was like something one would see in a science fiction movie. Inspired by liquid mercury, the sculpture is among the largest of its kind in the world. The 110-ton sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which creates a fish-eye reflection of the cities skyline. Kapoor said, "what I wanted to do in Millennium Park is make something that would engage the Chicago skyline, so that one will see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work. And since it is in the form of a gate, the participant, the viewer, will be able to enter into this very deep chamber that does, in a way, the same thing to one's reflection as the exterior of the piece is doing to the reflection of the city around." Cloud Gate was installed in 2005 and the 12 foot high arch that provides the "gate" that Kapoor is referring too, attracted visitors with their cameras to capture themselves in the reflection of the sculpture. The concave/convex shapes that "Cloud Gate" creates simulates a fun house mirror. Watching the visitors interact with this piece was like watching my five-month-old gaze at his reflection in our mirror at home and smile. Everyone was so entertained with the simplicity of a reflection that one could see by how the crowd reacted to the piece that the artist succeeded with creating this permanent new "face" of Chicago.
After walking several blocks to Giordano's for lunch and enjoying the best pizza in Chicago. Obviously just my opinion, but having to wait forty minutes at 2:30 pm in the afternoon suggests I am not the only one that believes this is great food. Shopping was next followed by a quick trip to the top of the Willis Tower to view the skyline from a very different perspective. While we were walking around the streets I chose not to make this trip all about art, which simply means I couldn't help but notice every gallery we walked passed. One did grab my attention as something that was not quite a tourist destination unless one knew where to look or like myself, stumbled across the door step as a happy accident. It was called a "POP-UP" gallery. "Pop-Up Art Loop" takes empty storefronts in the "loop" and uses them as public art galleries, exhibits and studios. I managed to come across two of these, but later finding out there are currently twelve open in downtown Chicago, I feel like I have failed to report on what they are completely like, but the two I did get a chance to see were captivating with sculptures and 2D work of several levels that were eye catching to most who had the chance to walk by the windows.
Not to leave out what is going on in our own Cultural Districts; Friday October 1st, 2010, is the Fall Gallery Walk on Mass Ave! According to some of the local businesses this year sounds like it will be one of the best in a long time, with artists setting up tables up and down Mass Ave there is sure to be excitement buzzing on the streets. The gallery walk starts at 6pm and most galleries are open till 9 pm, some venues will stay open a little later.
Herron School of Art and Design will host a sneak peak view of "William Kentridge: Anything is Possible" on October 6th, 2010, at 5:30 pm in the Basile Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public. There will also be a panel discussion with community experts immediately following. Kentridge's work has been described as touching on the universal theme of race and the role of the artist as a storyteller. The Museum of Modern Art referred to Kentridge as "a remarkably versatile artist whose work combines the political with the poetic. Dealing with subjects as sobering as apartheid, colonialism, and totalitarianism, his work is often imbued with dreamy, lyrical undertones or comedic bits of self-deprecation that render his powerful messages both alluring and ambivalent. Best known for animated films based on charcoal drawings, he also works in prints, books, collage, sculpture and the performing arts."
Guests of Herron School of Art and Design should park in the Sports Complex Garage, just west of Herron. Park in the visitor side of the garage and bring your garage ticket to the Herron Galleries for parking validation, courtesy of The Great Frame Up. For more information on the film visit www.art21.org/anythingpossible.
As the fall season begins to bring the heat index down consider a trip to the IMA to see the latest installation, "Andy Warhol Enterprises". With more than 100 iconic creations, the Warhol exhibit opens to the public on October 10th and will be up through January 2nd, 2011. If you would like to be a part of the excitement, the IMA will be hosting a preview party The Factory: An Opening Soiree for Andy Warhol Enterprises on October 9th, 2010, from 7-10 pm. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.imamuseum.org/warhol and are $25 for museum members and $60 for non-members.



Casey Jo Ailes holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Herron School of Art and teaches at the Indianapolis Art Center. She is an award winning artist and focuses on photography and painting. Casey has been published nation wide and shows her work locally. Contact her at casey@BroadRippleGazette.com




casey@broadripplegazette.com
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