The Art Institute, Chicago
Taking the Longer Way Home
In this trip
- So. Keeping it original for autumn, aren’t we?
- Off to Heathrow in the Dead of the Night
- Terminal 3 Lounges… And more delays
- American Airlines AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin)
- In the USA, Candlewood Suites O’Hare
- TRAVEL PLUS: Fooding around Chicago
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Airplane Art Extra – from the 10th Floor of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- TRAVEL PLUS: The Art Institute, Chicago
- Back to O’Hare, Air France/KLM Lounge
- Finnair AY010 Chicago O’Hare to Helsinki Vantaa
- A Helsinki Layover
- Finnair AY1335 Helsinki Vantaa to London Heathrow
- Coaching Homewards
- Sometimes, it’s more the journey
The Art Institute, Chicago
I’ve passed this venue many times in my travels, yet – I’ve never actually been into the Art Institute in Chicago.
Exterior.
Why?
Mainly, whilst I’m a creative, I’m not overly arty. However, I did have a spare morning to myself (a rare enough thing on a Chicago Trip), and I fancied some art in my life.
Getting there
The Art Institute is just south of Millennium Park, and not far from The Loop. You can use the Blue line and walk, Get off at Adams and Wabash on the Loop (good if you’re coming in from Midway) and walk buses, or your usual rideshare friends
Entrance fee is $25 downwards at the time of writing (depending on if you’re out of towner, Chicago or Illinois Resident). It’s extra if you want to go to the special exhibition (in this case, it was Andy Warhol… and I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of his work so a $7 saving for me).
Note, that if you have a rucksack or larger, you’ll need to check it for a dollar. If you have a little side-bag, they will allow that in.
With that, it’s time to explore. At this point in this write up it is mostly pictures from here on out, so settle in. I’ll add commentary where I can.
In the main building.
Karel Marten’s Image and Icons.
Buddha.
Now for the turn of the Impressionists
And Claude Monet of course
Branches of the Seine near Giveny
Waterloo Bridge, Grey Weather. But in Waterloo Sunset, I am in Paradise. Sha la la.
Water Lily Pond
Irises
Nypheneas
And more art.
The Eruption of Vesuvius- Pierre-Jacques Volaire
Ad Astra – Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Passing through the Asian Art Gallery to the Modern wing, you pass the many faces of Buddha.
The Modern Wing is an extension opened May 2009 is dedicated to modern works that the museum houses.
The Modern Wing
There was also an Andy Warhol exhibition there. Whist I can appreciate his style of pop art – it doesn’t interest me a lot.
It’s a good thing we’re all different.
Apparently, these are all Greek to me.
The modern wing is also home to Modern American art too.
Including one piece that you can see in the header for this trip report – American Gothic.
American Gothic – Grant Wood.
I’ll leave Wikipedia to explain a lot of it, but it is an image that strikes me contrasting in these times. One that leaves more questions than answers when I’m thinking about things.
I spent a good couple of hours there, slowing down and taking in the art and ideas. In one of my other lives, I’m a creative, trying to create my own art, my own impressions of the world (heck, it’s why I pick up the camera when I travel).
And places like this can serve not only as a place to slow down in a world of rushing but also as a place to gather ideas.
And that’s invaluable sometimes – be you a creative or otherwise.
Next: Back to O’Hare, The Air France/KLM Lounge.
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