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Chicago POP Quiz Answer 9/19

Cloud Gate

In my 9/17 blog entry I asked, Where exactly am I in this picture? The answer is under the Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park.  This 110 ton elliptical sculpture is formed of highly polished stainless steel plates. The sculpture reflects not only those standing around and under it, but the beautiful Chicago skyline and the clouds above. The sculpture was designed by Anish Kapoor and was inspired by liquid mercury. Locals affectionately call it “the bean” which makes Kia Quinn of Rhode Island our lucky winner. Kia will receive this year’s Key to the Cure T-shirt designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

I love Millennium Park. It gives me another reason to be proud of my hometown. After amusing myself under the bean, I wandered over to the Crown Fountain. The two tall block structures at either end of the fountain project images of Chicagoans on its LED screens. Eventually the face will pucker its lips and at that moment water will shoot out. The artist, Jaume Plensa, pulled this idea from fountains with gargoyles that spout water from their mouths. Kids in the summer watch the screen anxiously waiting for the mouth to pucker then rush to the spot where the water lands to get doused.

Crown Fountain

After that I made my way over to the Frank Ghery designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion which looks like its formed from metal shavings.

Pritzker Pavilion

And, the best way to end a visit to Millennium Park is with a wish and a foot soak in the Lurie Garden.  My wish was for good health to all the cancer survivors I’ve met along this journey.