As evidenced by my several blogs featuring public art and sculptures, I am a fan of such beautiful creations. I am not a fan of Cloud Gate, however. Specifically, I do not like Cloud Gate representing Chicago.
Photo 23462359 © Songquan Deng | Dreamstime.com
Located in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, Cloud Gate was completed in 2006. It is a stainless steel structure reflecting the city skyline, measuring 33 feet by 42 feet by 66 feet. Inspired by liquid mercury, it is nicknamed “The Bean” because of its shape. I didn’t like it from the start, and I like it even less now.
Photo 62478930 © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime.com
I grew up with The Picasso as the sculpture representing Chicago. Technically unnamed, The Picasso is a Cubist sculpture by Picasso located in front of Daley Plaza. It was the first such major public artwork in Chicago and started a movement of public art being more than simply commemorative.
The Picasso is interesting. It has character. At first it faced a little criticism, though, but that mostly stemmed from traditionalists who didn’t appreciate such artistic displays. The criticism soon faded, and The Picasso was embraced as a beautiful, soulful representative of Chicago.
Photo 49482848 © Jim Roberts | Dreamstime.com
Chicago’s next well-known sculpture was Monument with Standing Beast, a sculpture by Jean Dubuffet, unveiled in 1984 in front of the Thompson Center. Based on Dubuffet’s 1960 painting series Hourloupe, it has been called “Snoopy in a blender” or “crumbled paper” by Chicagoans. Not as locally popular as The Picasso, I don’t really mind it taking a secondary role.
Admittedly, Cloud Gate is one of the most touristy spots in Chicago as folks snap endless photos with it. It is also one of the many stock shots used to represent Chicago during televised events here.
Therein lies the crux of my dissatisfaction. It doesn’t represent Chicago. It is soulless and generic. It has become a gimmicky caricature of Chicago. Television directors use it, much like they use deep-dish pizza and the very tired “da Bears” references. Chicago is so much more than these retreads; I could find more unique beauty in hundreds of other Chicago locations.
You’ll notice I did not include a picture of me at Cloud Gate. I refuse to join the masses in doing so. I will not acknowledge Cloud Gate as representative of my Chicago.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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