By Kristen Prosise, published in TravelHost Magazine September 2009
Enter with an open mind, the Art Institute of Chicago’s new modern wing that is home to over 1,000 works of art ranging from architecture and design to contemporary art, photography and European. Start outside, with easy access to the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, an ensemble might be performing on a lucky day. Take a stroll up the 620-foot bridge and arrive at the extension of the well-known, Art Institute of years past. However, this modern wing is different. New. Sophisticated. Fresh.
Natural light warms the interior, skylights and a flying carpet structure are used to save energy and provide quality lighting for the showcase of artwork.
“This is a three-hour building to really digest it” says Erin Hogan, director of public affairs. “But you can spend anywhere from a half hour to a full day here.”
Stop for a cup of coffee and a muffin between architecture and contemporary art – the rest stops along the way are designed to help you digest the gallery without feeling overwhelmed. Take it all in.
Cy Twombly, a contemporary favorite, is on display on the first floor. The pieces look oddly the same – acrylic, wax, crayon, pencil and collage – nonetheless captivating. Cloud-like masses that drip strategically to the bottom of the canvas with his words scrawled across the mid-section, creating poetry in motion.
Venture upstairs to the contemporary European gallery that features well-known productions from 1900-1950. Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Yves Tanguy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky and many more. Find a miniature version of Picasso’s welded steel sculpture you’ll otherwise find perched on Daley Plaza in large monumental form.
This is just a glimpse of the peaceful and eye-opening experience the modern wing has to offer. Check out the rest of the gallery Mon-Wed 10:30 am – 5 pm, Thurs-Fri 10:30 am – 9 pm; Sat-Sun 10:30 am – 5 pm. Thursday and Friday evenings have free admission to the public from 5-9 pm.
Leave a comment