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In
July of 2004 a major art exhibit, which has been
lightheartedly nicknamed “The Bean”
while awaiting the official titling by its artist
Anish Kapoor, was unveiled in the heart of Chicago.
The exhibit, which was constructed under the protective
cover of a steel-framed fabric shelter provided
by Big Top Manufacturing, Inc, is a central outdoor
art exhibit in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
When visitors to the park pass underneath the
structure at its central point, they are enveloped
into the other images created by the park surroundings.
According to Chicago Tribune art critic, Alan
Artner, “more than 100 curved stainless-steel
plates are being assembled to create what will
become a three-dimensional mirror of land, water,
visitors, and sky, as well as a kind of portal."
This art exhibit is the largest outdoor art piece
made in Chicago since Lorado Taft’s “Fountain
of Time,” which was created in the 1920s
at the Midway Plaisance. “The Bean”
was originally projected in 1999 to cost around
six million dollars. However, it is now estimated
to have cost approximately ten million dollars
with much of that money provided by donors.
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| Chicago,
IL |
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| Chicago,
IL |
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| Chicago,
IL |
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The artistic designer of the piece, Anish Kapoor,
was chosen from twenty different outdoor art designers
from around the world to design a piece that would
fit the desires of the Art Institute and the Museum
of Contemporary Art. Kapoor wanted to “make
a work that would deal with the incredible skyline
of Chicago and the open sky and the lake but then
also be a kind of gate.” The designer of
“The Bean” has designed outdoor art
in Canada, Japan, and England. The exhibit of
Nottingham, England is like the Chicago piece
in that it is a concave mirror which brings the
sites of the sky down to the ground. The Chicago
piece will also bring those viewing it closer
to the skyline as well as the surrounding body
of water.
The art exhibit was completed under the cover
of a 68’ x 100’ x 58’ Big Top
Structure to shield the exhibit construction from
weather and passersby, until it was finally unveiled
to Chicago and the world.
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