No Clue

Discovered these paper mache birds at The Magic Hedge/Montrose Harbor.  

Bright Flowers

These colorful flowers, brightening up some dull winter days, are on the 212 South State Street Building in the Loop.  The building is owned by the General Services Administration.  They partnered with a group called Portraits of Hope to create a uplifting mural on the doors of the building.  

Exploring Chinatown: Year of the Dragon

Last Fall we went exploring in Chinatown but I didn't have time to post the photos.  Until now.  In honor of the Chinese New Year (it's the Year of the Dragon), today, here are the nine dragons on the Chicago Chinatown's Nine Dragon Wall.

Chicago Lights

The Loop Alliance is leaving the music-synchronized lights along State Street up through February.  It started out in December with Christmas and Holiday songs and greetings.   Now all the songs are love songs. (Today, I heard "My Funny Valentine", "I Will Always Love You", "All You Need is Love".)  

On a dreary winter day, as the 2012 blizzard begins, a little color is nice to see.  But, come Spring, I hope they bring the tulips back.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving

A Robert Indiana Hope sculpture, 

companion piece to his famous Love sculpture in Philadelphia, 

on display by the John Hancock Building

Exploring ... Pilsen IV

Another new mural in Pilsen, the J-Def Peace Project, honors a local hip-hop artist that was killed in 2009.  Here are a few segments of that mural. 

Exploring ... Pilsen III

Pilsen has many vibrantly painted murals.  Here are a few scenes from one of the newer ones entitled Reach for Peace.

Exploring ... Pilsen II

There's a beautifully painted Community Center in Pilsen called Casa Aztlan. Here are a few scenes from the building.  The blank white spaces seem to indicate that the exterior is always being updated and refreshed.

 

Exploring ... Pilsen I

Pilsen is a very interesting neighborhood in Chicago.  Very diverse, but with a strong Latino infuence, and artistic. A great place to explore.

Artsy Sidewalk Marker

Artsy Gangway Gate

Dancing with Corkscrews

An interesting sculpture. And, yes, it is right outside a wine bar.

Symmetry V

Belmont CTA Station

COLOR WEEK: YELLOW (Violin Lollipop)

Lakeview sculpture

Home

When you get off the Blue Line at the Logan Square stop, you get this reminder that you're home.

But don't try to walk through the blue door 'cause it's really a cement wall.

Ode to Riverview

A sculpture at Belmont Avenue and Wester Avenue is an ode to the old RiverView Amusement Park. It was created by artist Jerry Peart in 1980.

Fountain of the Great Lakes

I recently learned about this beautiful fountain while volunteering with the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

This is the Fountain of the Great Lakes by Lorado Taft. It is located in the Stanley McCormick Memorial Court on the south side of the Art Institute. The five women represent each of the five Great Lakes and the fountain shows the flow of water between the lakes from Lake Superior down to Lakes Michigan and Huron and then to Lakes Erie and Ontario.

Below the photo are two water sprites that appear on either side of the main fountain.

For the Record

While I was waiting to take yesterday's photo, I noticed that people were walking around the back of the statue and surreptitiously looking up. Well they THOUGHT they were doing this surreptitiously.

So, for the record: Yes, she is wearing undergarments. This is Chicago, not Hollywood. And she's Marilyn, not Britney.

Heels and Subway Gratings

When I wear heals and walk over a subway grate, I get stuck. But this is Marilyn, after all.

Feather Friends

While the warblers have all moved on a few months ago, Chicago is still a big bird watching destination. Although, this Kingfisher was a little flat ... must be the heat.

No Clue ... revisited

Yet another in an irregular series of photographs of sights for which I have no explanation.

Man with a Fish

The Man with a Fish fountain (near the Man with a Fish Garden) by sculptor Stephan Balkenhol is appropriately positioned at the entrance to the Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd staff would probably frown upon attempts by visitors to hug any of the Aquarium's residents. Especially the sharks.