Like I said… when I turned the corner in Millennium Park, kinda close to the Art Institute…
I turned and noticed that another major harbinger of Spring was right there in front of me.
The Buckingham Fountain had been turned on!

This elaborate fountain is possibly the most recognizable landmark in Chicago.
All Winter, the fountain is closed down, boarded up and packed away for the season.
Each Spring, it’s an exciting event when the fountain returns… as Spring is here!!!
And for those of you who may not have ever been to Chicago, but did watch the TV classic
“Married With Children”… well, then you’ve already seen it there too!

And here’s you quick history lesson…
Buckingham Fountain sits in the center of Grant Park and is the most significant feature.
A gift to Chicago from Kate Buckingham, in memory of her brother, it was dedicated in 1927
as the world’s largest decorative fountain. The design is based on the Latona Fountain at
Versailles, France. It consists of three Georgia pink marble circular basins of 24-foot, 60-foot
and 103-foot diameters, siting on a 280-foot wide bottom pool. Together they hold 1,500,000
gallons of water recirculating 14,000 gallons a minute through 133 jets, with the central jet
reaching 137 feet into the air. The fountain symbolizes Lake Michigan and the four groups
of bronze “sea horses” represent the four States around it.

The fountain is stunning from every side – especially with the sun glistening through.
And depending on which way the wind is blowing, you might get a fine misting too!

The weather was surprisingly beautiful today.
And although I was supposed to be working on my taxes…
I knew that I had to be out on my bike! So I did… and gladly pedaled off for the day…

Headed south along the lakefront towards the city, enjoying the Spring scenery.
Ice & slush is finally gone. There are a few more potholes on the bike trail than usual.
But Spring was everywhere! Leaves finally popping out. Beaches. Skylines. Beautiful.

A little bit further, the Spring wildflowers were peaking out en mass… which made it
the perfect place to make a stop. Really, any place this beautiful is a great place to stop!

Getting closer to the city, I was intrigued by the empty harbors. All summer long, these slips
will be filled with hundreds & hundreds of boats. Every harbor will be filled. Packed full.
So I found it striking that there were absolutely no boats in the lake yet.

Just south of the Chicago Yacht Club, you turn back toward the city and are greeted by a
colorful forest of orange & yellow trees. These trees were installed about a year ago. They
were originally “planted” in Lincoln Park closer to the Zoo. But now they are right there
along the side of Lake Shore Drive. I love that Chicago has ART everywhere!!!

And as if the painted trees weren’t beautiful enough… the ground beneath them
is a blooming carpet of mini daffodils! Ain’t Mother Nature grand?… even with a coat of paint!

Just behind the painted trees is the Cancer Survivors’ Garden. There are beautiful iron
gazebos, benches, urns and gardens strolling up the hill towards the Colonnade.

And the perfect day kept getting better & better… as Magnolias were blooming everywhere.
One of the most striking flowers of Spring, which unfortunately don’t last very long. Just
one big wind storm and they’re gone for another year! And look closely…
apparently that early-rising bumble bee was excited to see the magnolias too!

From the Cancer Survivors’ Garden, it’s just a short walk to the BP Bridge which takes
you over the roads and into Millennium Park. The bridge has a shiny metal surface…
kind of like a Medieval metal-plated armor coating! Very striking… especially when
the sun is glaring off the shiny surface.

Across the bridge, you come up to the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Bandshell
and striking “birdcage” structure that works as a canopy & sound speaker support
for the concert goes who sit in the lawn. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Mr. Gehry…
and if you saw this structure from the side or behind, I think it looks completely
unfinished. Okay, I know there’s a concept in there somewhere… I’m just saying…

As I was moving about Millennium Park, it was great to see Spring popping out everywhere.
Little flowers. Small Spring buds. The juxtaposition of last year’s foliage & grasses withering
away while the new Spring fun is emerging all around.

And then… oh, but wait there’s more… the fountain was on!
But I’ll save that for the next post. Coming soon…

Like the classic song from the 70’s band “Chicago”…
It was indeed a wonderful “Saturday In The Park”…
and “I’ve been waiting such a long time… for Saturday”… and for Spring!!!

Today has been beautiful with the sun trying to make its way out all day.
It finally came out, and I just “had to” go out for a bike ride. Surprising, huh?!
And to take a few moments to enjoy the sun, the lakefront and some of the art along the lake..
like this bronze sculpture near Belmont Harbor named “Signal Of Peace.”

And here’s more about the photography exhibit we went to see at the
Chicago Cultural Center… in between the incredible stained glass dome windows…

Vivian Maier (February 1, 1926 – April 21, 2009) was an American amateur
street photographer who was born in New York but grew up in France, and after
returning to the U.S., worked for about forty years as a nanny in Chicago.
During those years she took about 100,000 photographs, primarily of people and
cityscapes most often in Chicago, although she traveled and photographed worldwide.
Her photographs remained unknown and mostly undeveloped until they were discovered
by a local historian, John Maloof, in 2007. Following Maier’s death her work began to
receive critical acclaim.Her photographs have appeared in newspapers in Italy, Argentina,
and England, and have been exhibited alongside other artists’ work in Denmark and Norway;
her first solo exhibition is running at the Chicago Cultural Center until April 3, 2011.

If you want to see her work in person, be sure to stop by the Chicago Cultural Center
before April 3rd… when her solo retrospective show will come to a close.

You can also see a lot more of her work if you click on this blog link…
Vivian Maier – Her Discovered Work.

You can also check out Artsy.net for more information.
You’ll find more on Vivian Maier including her bio, 80+ images of her works, exclusive articles about Vivian Maier, as well as her up-to-date exhibitions – it’s a unique Maier resource. Click here for Vivian Maier on Artsy.net.

Artsy.net : Bringing the world’s art to everyone with an internet connection.

A perfect Spring day in Chicago. Crisp. Clear. Cold.
Pots are too wet to trim in the studio… so let’s go play downtown!!!

We headed down to the Art Institute of Chicago to check out the new Modern Wing.
Okay, new to me anyway… it’s been here awhile already. But you know how you can
take something for granted when it’s right in “your backyard”? Well, I finally got around
to checking out the new Modern Wing… finally. The structure itself was incredible.
Very clean, very sleek, very modern. Go figure.

The views are great from inside too… even through the blinds overlooking Millennium Park
and the Gehry Pavilion. Never mind the collection of Giacometti sculptures all around you!

Part of my plan for the day was also to “scout out” opportunities for my kids when I bring
them here for a Summer Camp Field Trip. How do I keep  a bunch of kids focused & engaged
in a museum where they have to be quiet?! Projects? Scavenger hunt? Quiz? Sketches?
Luckily, it’s several weeks away, so I still have time to come up with a plan.

So we bypassed a “lot” of the regular masterpieces in the “original” museum to get to the
Modern Wing. But when we got inside, there was a lot to see. Including some of the
all-time favorites like Rene Magritte, Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Robert Delaunay & more!

And let me just say… for some reason, this one was today’s favorite. I was taken by her
“strange” colorations, the impressionistic “squiggles” and the eerie mood it all sets.
Okay, that ONE tooth is pretty fetching too!

But let me just say for the record… I’m not a huge fan of the more recent American modern
artists. You know the ones… when they take a canvas, paint it all one color and call if done.
Or scribble all over it like a kid and call it “art.” The ones that look like bad paint-by-number.
The ones that look like bad PhotoShop. Or a video about nothing. Or black noise. Whatever.
I never bought into that theory that just because they call themselves “artists” does it mean
that whatever they make is “art. With that said, I do enjoy some of the cleverness & witticisms
of Modern Art… but do something. Make something. Have a reason to make art.
Not to throw it back in someone’s face just to call it “ART.”  So there…

Then we walked over to the Chicago Cultural Center. One of Chicago’s little-known
cultural gems. The building alone is a work of art. With incredible mosaics, Tiffany stained
glass dome windows, and art all around. Just wandering the four floors is spectacular.
Let alone the small galleries on every floor. Did I mention the stained glass domes?…

Our main purpose at the Chicago Cultural Center was to see the special photography
exhibit of the work by Vivian Maier. To see more of her wonderful images, click here.
You may have heard of her recently. I’s a great story… which I’ll save for the next blog post!

After the photography exhibit, we went upstairs to the Louis Sullivan exhibit.
Drawings, sketches, designs & actual pieces of the wonderful work Sullivan created
for many of the major buildings in Chicago… starting with the World’s Fair. The exhibit
was pretty incredible. I loved seeing the sketches right next to the actual piece. But I
still wish there were more pieces on display. With all of the hundreds of buildings that he
worked on, and the number of them that have been destroyed over the years, I would
hope that more of the remnants remain.

We then topped off the night with some wonderful Cuban food at Cafe 28.
Located on the corner of Irving Park Road & Ravenswood, just a few blocks south
of Lillstreet Art Center. Okay, so I was hungry after a long day of art & walking…
but let me just say that they may have had the best pork chops I’ve ever had!!!
Here goes… Honey Jalapeno Pork Chops marinated, grilled & then baked
to perfection with sweet potatoes! Yum…

Also at The Pier… interspersed in the Stained Glass Museum,
there is currently an exhibit of contemporary mosaics. Now generally I’m not
a huge fan of mosaics. But after seeing this exhibit, I may need to reconsider.
I was especially enamored by the mosaics of Laura Rendlen of Glen Ellyn
who does these intricate, almost “photo-realistic” mosaics with teenie-tiny pieces!

Plus a few others, like this incredible portrait of “Indian Prayers”…
not to be outdone by the whimsically crazy birds mosaic!

Thanks to the Chicago Mosaic School for bringing these out for all of us to see!

While “hanging out in the garden” today on Navy Pier, I also took time downstairs
to stroll through the Stained Glass Museum. It’s a wonderful collection of stained
glass artists through the years. Including beautiful works by Tiffany and his
contemporaries. Many people people make it straight from the parking garages
and up to Festival Hall for the special exhibits without ever seeing the beautiful
artwork that is housed at Navy Pier all year long! Here’s a glimpse…

Spring came a little early again this year to Chicago’s Navy Pier.
With a week of incredible floral displays and gardening tips & ideas at the
Chicago Flower & Garden Show. A week of seasonal fun to taunt those of us “suffering”
from Spring Fever. It was great to be surrounded by the scents & colors of Spring!

As well as some great gardens built & installed on the floor of Festival Hall. I especially
love that they install actual ponds & waterfalls, as well as wonderful Zen Gardens!

And one of my favorites… a incredibly whimsical & oversized croquet set
with a “floating” croquet mallet and huge levitating croquet balls made out of
white phaleanopolis orchids!

Plus it was fun to see one of my own creations at the entrance to greet visitors
as they enter the Garden Show. I designed this natural horse for a different event
with my side job I refer to as “the glitter gig.” Complete with river rock “socks”,
green moss patches and Spanish moss mane & tail. It was great to use her again
at the show. I like to refer to her as “Kate Moss.”

So the performance of “Les Miserables” was incredible. The theater ain’t too shabby either!
Unfortunately, I had this crazy usher lady yelling at me… I’ll just call her “Imelda Marcos”…
well before the show was even close to starting. Apparently “she” thinks that you can’t take
pictures at all inside the theater anywhere?! Crazy!!! Especially when it looks like this!

Just two weeks after the “big snow”… today we’re in for the “big thaw.”
With the sun beaming and temperature rising, it was a beautiful afternoon.
And I really wanted to go for a bike ride along the lake.

Although I typically avoid days like today because I know it’s too soon
and there will be puddles, mushy snow, mud, debris and kinds of junk along the trail.

I knew that it wasn’t a wise idea.
I knew that I would inevitably get one of those wet mud stripes up my back.
I knew that the puddles would be 3-inches deep in parts
I knew that the stretch just south of Fullerton would be impassable.
But I also knew that I was going to go anyway.

It was irresistible.