Heading Out

One last post from the Modern Wing of the Art Institute. It seemed to me a must to return to the large, bright, cheery central core area on the way to the main north doors. We see the easy flow of people from area to area in the well-lit room. We see the flow moving around the sculpture.

Target sponsored the free visits during the first week, and they should be thanked for that support. Recent reviews have mentioned that the opening week had large crowds and that perhaps it is a little less hectic there now. But Target supported those crowds, and it was very exciting to be a part of it. Thanks, Target!

Pritzker Garden

A pleasant portion of the Modern Wing is the Pritzker Garden, just to the east of the central core of the building. New but already pleasant and peaceful, this outside area will only improve with age and time for growing.

Museums are designed as places for people to "muse," to relax and to think. Welcoming areas that provide the opportunity for reflection truly enhance any museum.

Inside Entrance

The Modern Wing has its own "front door," as mentioned in previous posts. But of course it is a new wing, not an entire new building, so it has an inside entrance. This passage, well designed as an easy access and a clear demarcation of the division, is just north of the courtyard which has been the longtime home of the famed Chagall windows. In other words, one looking at the windows would see the Modern Wing by turning to look to the left.

Of course, the Chagall windows have been in storage for a good long time as protection during the construction period. On the opening weekend, none of the four guides I asked knew when the Chagall windows were scheduled for a return to their place in the Art Institute. That will be another great day on Michigan Avenue.

The Quality of Light

The wonderful quality of light flowing through into the central portion of the Modern Wing comes from the design of the roof, another work of art on its own.

There are several places to see striking views of the light filtering through that roof, but none better than the middle of the central core, which has easy access to both sides of the building. While the balcony photo suggests easy access from side to side, that is not the case. One of the questions about the design of the building is that a person on the top floor, finishing in the galleries, might be only 30-40 years away from the restaurant and the viewing area on the roof. But their is no direct access. One must walk down to the first floor and then take an elevator up to the third floor. Security concerns were cited as the basis for this choice, but it is a strange trip down and up!

Central Core

Our previous post lauded the architecture of the Art Institute Modern Wing, a work of art that houses works or art. We looked at exterior views in that post, so here are a pair that show the open, airy look and feel of the area's interior core. The long view is from the upper level and in a position where the older portion of the museum would be behind you. That means the main entrance we have seen from outside is at the far end of the atrium-like central area. A special exhibit area is to the left, along with a major new gift shop and access to the roof restaurant. To the right you can see the stairway that leads to the upper levels, with the main exhibit rooms further to the right.

Certainly you will have a better feel for the bright, cheery area soon -- as soon as you can get to see the Modern Wing for yourself.

Work of Art by Piano

The two views we look at today will pretty much speak for themselves. As anticipated, Enzo Piano created a work of architectural art in the design of the new wing, generating space on the north and east sides of the classically-styled building that simply had to have an entry of its own. It is truly the most striking work of art I saw that day!

Very Timely Blog Post!

Yesterday's post turned out to be incredibly timely. In nearly an offhand manner, I used the word "jaywalk" to refer to one of the ways to get across Monroe Street to enter the Art Institute's Modern Wing. We had looked at the Nichols Bridgeway, seen rising to the roof to the far right in the photo here. The bridgeway enters pedestrians on the roof, where people can be seen looking out from the vista windows which look north into Millennium Park.

Timely? What makes a mention of jawyalking timely? This morning's CHICAGO TRIBUNE, on page 6, has a full story on the need for a mid-block crosswalk to cut down the danger to the many jaywalkers. Good thing we did not put off yesterday's post, as the Trib would have had the scoop!

The point-of-view here, by the way, is from inside the lobby of the Grant Park/Millenium Park underground garage, which empties parkers directly across the street from the Modern Wing door. That explains the vertical "stripes" in the photo. It also explains why a crosswalk should have been designed here already, during the years that the addition was under construction. The location of the parking garage lobby was not mentioned in the Trib, which makes this post another scoop for Rick Beato Photo.

I am certain that my son, a journalism professional, will be proud. Two Scoops! Sounds familiar . . .

From the Park to the Museum

Once the bridge carried you over the street or once you jaywalk across the street, you can enter the Art Institute Chicago's Modern Wing. Built to the south and east of the older building, it has its own look.

Contrasted to the 1890s-classic look of the Michigan Avenue entrance, which features large columns and few windows, the new section appears to be all window and plenty of open space. That impression is accurate, as we shall see in upcoming posts.

The Nichols Bridgeway

The walkway that bridges a street and attaches the Art Institute's Modern Wing is a work of art itself, interesting to look at and fun to walk over. Park visitors can climb to a roof garden above the museum, can eat at the restaurant up on the roof, and can enter the museum to see the many works of art.

Interestingly, though, the climb to the roof only allows entrance to the museum by taking an escalator back down to the ground floor. It would have been easier to walk across the street and enter the building. Easier, but nowhere near as pretty!

Even a Place for a Nap

About to leave the park and head over the bridge to the Art Institute Modern Wing, we see how highly this park is valued in the huge organization of the Chicago Park District. As far as I know, no other park has classy pennants with a park logo. This is not to say the attention is undeserved, because this park is exactly what every park in every town should be or at least would like to be: it is a people magnet. People come to ooh and aah, they come to eat at a great restaurant, they come to take pictures and to see flowers and to visit and to throw Frisbees.

Oh, yes, and some come to take an nap in the warm sunshine. Sleep well!

Flowers, Present & Future

Visitors to Millennium Park are always graced with beautiful flower beds, changed as appropriate for the flow of the seasons. My spring visit featured a two-tone collection of tulips in full bloom set in an immaculate bed, attractive from every side.

Meanwhile, the new bridge crossing the street to the Art Institute's Modern Wing allows a peek over a service area wall to see stacks of the summer plantings standing calmly on Sunday afternoon, likely waiting for Monday morning and planting.