Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Chicago Loop / Daley Plaza / Untitled (known as Chicago Picasso) - by Pablo Picasso..

Chicago Picasso - by Pablo Picasso





Untitled - Known as Chicago Picasso - by Pablo Picasso

Unveiled: 1967

Corten steel / 50 feet tall and weighs 162 tons

Location: Richard J. Daley Civic Center Plaza, 
50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602


The architects of Richard Daley Center commissioned the sculpture. The architects chose Pablo Picasso, a renowned Spanish artist to create this sculpture.

Picasso refused the $100,000 payment offered to him, stating that he wanted to make the sculpture a Gift to the people of Chicago.  The marquette for the sculpture is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC).

The sculpture was made of Cor-Ten steel fabricated by the American Bridge Company in Gary, Indiana. The steel peices were rolled by USS Gary Works. the world's largest rolling mill of its kind at the time. The pieces were assembled, disassembled and then transported to Chicago for reconstruction. The sculpture was assembled on site in the Daley Plaza.



Sunday, January 12, 2014

Chicago Loop / Miro's Chicago (1981) - by Joan Miro



Miro's Chicago - by Joan Miro




Miro's Chicago - by Joan Miro
Originally known as The Sun, The Moon and One Star

 Designed: 1963 / Unveiled: 1981

 Description: Steel, wire mesh, concrete, bronze and ceramic tile .. 
Height: 39 ft. 

Location: Brunswick Building Plaza.. 
Cook County Administration Building, 
69 W. Washington St., Chicago



Friday, January 10, 2014

Chicago Loop / The Flamingo (1974) - by Alexander Calder




The Flamingo - by Alexander Calder

Installed: 1974

53' high X 29' wide X 60' length

Location: Chicago Federal Plaza

Commissioned by the US GSA Art in Architecture program


This sculpture titled "Flamingo" is made by Alexander Calder, one of the most eminent sculptors of the 20th century American art.  "The sculpture was received in a public ceremony never before nor since equaled in scale nor in fanfare".

It's brilliant color and graceful curves are a great contrast to the three black and blocky buildings surrounding it. The Chicago Federal Center comprises of three buildings -The Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, the John C. Kluczynski Building, and the Loop Post Office.  All the three Federal buildings are designed by Mies Van Der Rohe