Thursday, May 29, 2008

#3 Sky Watch Friday




Here's the blurb I found about this sculpture in Chicago
"Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States. The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city's famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives."

I learned that it had a projected cost of 9 million dollars but that the final cost ended up being 23 million. It sort of reminded me of the Sydney Opera House... cost wise.
We were babysitting our granddaughter and decided to walk her over to Millennium Park to see the sculpture which Chicagoans actually call "The Bean." I think Mr. Kapoor has resigned himself to that title because that's what everybody I know calls it. We were amazed to see a wedding party pull up and have their photos taken in front of it, even as people swarmed all around them. You can see me in the 2nd photo almost dead center next to the carriage with the red top. I'm holding the camera. :-D

If you'd like to see some great Sky Watch Friday photos and join us just come on over to Welcome to Wiggers World and meet our very wonderful and most cordial host, Tom Wigley.

46 comments:

  1. wow is that something and at an enormous cost. seems like we could have bought rice for lots of starving people in africa for that...

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  2. It's all so amazing and wonderful: The Bean, wedding photos under the Bean, my beloved city, and YOU!

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  3. What a great sculpture. It's difficult sometimes to reconcile spending that amount of money on something like that, but just think of the amount of pleasure it gives to so many people and how good it must be for the soul to stand beneath it, even if you are surrounded by loads of other people. I think it's important to think of ourselves too, as well as other people. Perhaps a compromise could have been sought by not spending quite so much, but still having something amazing.

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  4. Amazing reflections. Nice sky for SWF.

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  5. Well, since it's there lets enjoy it!

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  6. I saw the Bean just recently on the web, my sister was going to Chicago and asked me about some places to see. The Bean wasn't there when I was. Nice shots and perfect for skywatch.

    Hope you have a great Friday. I also hope the move has not got you too stressed.

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  7. Musing: Beautiful sculpture you took advantage of to the utmost. What a great SWF.

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  8. Interesting, great pictures, well done.

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  9. A beautiful, unique and fascinating sky watch entry!! What fun it must be to take photos there.

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  10. Well, this is quite the reflection and I am enjoying this piece... this sculpture is truly amazing!
    Great post!!
    Rocky Mountain Retreat

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  11. Yes yes yes, fantastic shots.well done.love em.


    Pop and see my Water features

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  12. Simply wonderful these photos, very beautiful. Congratulations

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  13. Thanks for sharing this. Amazing.

    Our sky is heating up.
    Come visit,
    Troy and Martha

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  14. I'd love to see something like this..

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  15. That is a wonderful piece. I love the name, too!

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  16. These pictures are fantastic! I would love to see this sculpture.

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  17. Great shots and amazing reflections.

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  18. Art is good for the soul. This is especially nice because it's a reflection of the people and landscape around it.

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  19. That is amazing and costly. Nice picture.

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  20. Beautiful photo. Wow, what a neat sculpture.

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  21. It looks spectacular. With 23 mil it should be. Maybe Chigago will be known for Bean in the future? Like Paris is known for Eiffel tower. Then it doesn´t matter anymore what it cost.

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  22. What a picture! It's great! I'm looking forward to the beautiful skyscapes!

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  23. Nice that you are getting to spend so much time with your granddaughter Kay.

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  24. That is really expensive! It's a very nice shot of the reflection of the sky.

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  25. whoa!!! what a header and what a post! beautiful pictures everywhere :0

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  26. That is too cool. I have never seen anything like it. MB

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  27. Yes!! Very different - very cool! Love it! :)

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  28. I'm not sure if it isn't by the same sculpture but last weekend I saw what is apparently the world's biggest mirrorball in Blackpool - I may show it next Friday perhaps.

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  29. Those are neat pictures. Nice catch!

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  30. These are so interesting! Great shots!

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  31. on investigation it seems the one in blackpool - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/497140 is by Michael Trainor.

    Yours reminds me of something I saw a while ago on some blogs from Chicago (or was it Boston?)

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  32. How neat! Loved it.

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  33. Major blogger trouble. I love the reflection shots!!!

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  34. Fantastic shots! I just love those shots:)

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  35. That is one big bean - an amazing piece of work. It just goes to show, if you caan dream it you can do it. I have never dreamed of doing anything like that and if I did I wonder if anyone would give me the $'s to make it?

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  36. Dina's beloved city, and mine, too! The Bean was added after I moved away, but I've been to visit it and it's quite the attraction. These are fun photos (especially the second one).

    Will you be keeping up the blog as you go, Musings? I hope you can, now that I'm new your posts.

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  37. yes indeed my post this week was as a result of this one.

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