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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Cloud Gate


This looks like a scene from a science fiction movie, doesn't it?  Can you guess what it is?


It is "Cloud Gate," a sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. It has also been nicknamed "The Bean" for it's bean-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It weighs in at over 110-tons, and is 66 feet long and 33 feet high.


The sculpture's mirror like surface reflects and distorts Chicago's skyline.

 

Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot high arch. On the underside is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections, which you can see in the upper right photo in the photo mosaic above.  Cloud Gate is becoming one of the most photographed features in Chicago as it is hard to resist all the special effect opportunities it provides.

Linking with Mary at The Little Red House for her weekly "Mosaic Monday" event.  Thanks Mary!


I would also be so happy if  you please visit this link to visit my review blog to see the shopping spree I went on for my bride-to-be daughter and  for a chance to win a $100 HomeGoods gift card by leaving a comment there between June 20 and 30th, 2011! (click here for official rules)
Also, until June 30th, 2011, BlogHer is giving a chance to win one of ten $25 gift cards to HomeGoods on the BlogHer Prizes and Promotions Page that I know you'll want to enter, so you can have another chance to have your own mini HomeGoods shopping spree! Click here to enter! (Here are the official rules to enter


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45 comments:

  1. SnapJune 26, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    the last time we were in Chicago, the bean had been in place long enough to have earned its nickname. What fun. It is not possible to see it and not take a picture! Thanks for the memories!

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  2. ~Lavender Dreamer~June 26, 2011 at 9:08 PM

    I was reading your post when your comment came through on mine...like minds! Love these photos! I didn't know what I was seeing at first! I still need to go back and look again! And thanks for the encouraging words about the elevation change! I hate feeling so slow and 'out of it'! lol ♥

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  3. ClaudiaJune 26, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    It's a wonder what people create. We walked by there and through there many times during our short trip. Your photos just beguile (as usual).

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  4. VeeJune 26, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Now I wonder if my niece got to see that because I know she would've loved it...a truly unique experience. That's what I love about sculpture...when it's interactive.

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  5. myletterstoemilyJune 26, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    your ability to find new and wildly interesting
    subjects never ceases to amaze me. how
    creative is this vast piece of art?

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  6. black eyed susans kitchenJune 26, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    That is an amazing sculpture! I can see why it would have the two names. I would love to have an opportunity to gaze at it and see the cloud reflection. Your are the best tour guide Pat!

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  7. AnonymousJune 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    Hi Pat! This is just amazing!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  8. Barbara F.June 26, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    I've never seen anything like that sculpture before. It is amazing. Thanks for capturing all angles of the bean for us. xo,

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  9. genieJune 26, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    Lucky you t get to see something as unique as this and then to photography it. I am amazed and awestruck at how fabulous the shots came out. At times it was like you were using a fisheye lens. Love the photos, Genie

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  10. pamJune 26, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    I LOVE that giant bean. So many things to see differently depending on where you stand.
    Hey, I went to the Home Goods store last week. I bought some dishes....they only had 6 dinner plates and 6 fun bowls but I LOVED what I got. Light weight with flowers that looked like they had been hand painted. All of my dishes are so heavy so THANK YOU for enlightening me about this store.
    Hope you have a grand week Pat!

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  11. Ginny HartzlerJune 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    This is totally AMAZING!!!!

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  12. JojoJune 26, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    Wow! What a unique piece of art. In the first picture I couldn't tell what I was seeing.

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  13. LaJune 26, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    It does kinda look like a Mexican jumping bean. What a cool sculpture.

    Be sure to stop by my blog Tuesday to enter my giveaway.

    Have a great week! La

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  14. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesJune 26, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    I love it! I also enjoy seeing modern art like that in the city! It's so unexpected!

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  15. SarahJune 26, 2011 at 11:46 PM

    More great photos. I always learn something new from you. This is an interesting sculpture.

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  16. Punctuation MarkJune 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    i love chicago!!! have a great week!!!

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  17. CarolJune 27, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    That is really so cool! What an amazing sculpture. Great pics.

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  18. PondsideJune 27, 2011 at 2:01 AM

    I can see why it's so popular - there's something weirdly beautiful about it!

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  19. Old KittyJune 27, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    I love the Bean!!!! I love it!! Wow - look at it!! It's brilliant! I love that its so accessible and so so so enigmatic. I love it! thank you for these intimate shots!Take care
    x

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  20. eileeninmdJune 27, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    Hi Pat, it is a cool and fun looking sculpture and really has neat reflections. Your photos and mosaic are awesome.

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  21. People Who Know Me Would Say:June 27, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    Holy cow! That's sooooooo cool! Imagine being a painter and having so many 'different' views of the Chi skyline!

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  22. RNSANEJune 27, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    What an interesting sculpture. Sort of like those crazy mirrors at amusement parks! I imagine it does draw plenty of attention!

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  23. LynnJune 27, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    I've heard of the bean, it's definitely different:@)

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  24. Gardening in a SandboxJune 27, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Kind of reminded me of a humungous bicycle helmet. Must be interesting to see though. V

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  25. GratefulPrayerThankfulHeartJune 27, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    How amazing is this! I think I would be mesmerized and continue walking around and through. Fascinating and what fun photos!

    So nice stopping by this morning to visit with you! :)

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  26. YvetteJune 27, 2011 at 9:05 AM

    I love the whole idea of sculpture that we can interact with in such a vivid and personal manner. Just wonderful. Thanks again for sharing, Pat.

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  27. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonJune 27, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Wow, that it truly amazing. It really did look something out of a Sci-Fi. I have only been in the Chicago airport. Will have to visit sometime. Thanks for your comment on my blog.

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  28. My name is RietJune 27, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    What an amazing sculpture Pat. Wonderful and how I would love to see it in person. have a great day!

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  29. Judy June 27, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Very cool. I had no idea what the first photo might be...until I scrolled down for the answer!

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  30. GailOJune 27, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    A photographers dream!...this is the first I have heard it called the Cloud Gate...I like this name!

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  31. Katherines CornerJune 27, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Oh that is awesome! Thank you or the giveaway info. I"m having a giveaway too if you'd like to stop by and enter. Hugs!

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  32. TracyJune 27, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    WOW... you saw it! I'm fascinated by Anish Kapoor's designs--very imaginative they are! Amazing the scenes a big silver bean can give...*sigh*... Happy Day, Pat ((HUGS)) P.S. Many thanks for you kind thoughts on my painting. I was a bit shy to share it, but glad I did. :o)

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  33. nannyJune 27, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    that is so awesome, I would love to see it. I like your last shot before the collage....

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  34. AnonymousJune 27, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    ♥
    oh.. so nice post.)
    Love your blog.))
    ♥
    I now spend a survey of bloggers with such questions.
    1. Why did you create a blog?
    2. For whom you taking him? Want to be popular?
    3. How long will it keep going?
    ♥

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  35. JacquelineJune 27, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    Such fun images. I bet it is even more amazing in person!

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  36. TannaJune 27, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    WOW!! That thing is amazing, Pat! That's a lotta plates and no seam visable! Most interesting! Thank you foe letting us see this! blessings ~ tanna

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  37. NanceJune 27, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    Awesome piece of interactive art. My first impression of your image was that it resembled the undulatus asperatum cloud that emerged over our back yard a couple of years ago. It looked like a giant spaceship would emerge from it to warp space/time and gather us all in. If I designed a UFO, it would look like The Bean.

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  38. bjJune 27, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    I always want to call you Mille...:))
    This is so interesting. I love all the photos. I couldn't figure it all out at first..until you told me what I was looking at. :))
    love, bj

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  39. CindyJune 27, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    What an interesting piece, it must have cost a fortune. We were in Chicago last year, it's really too bad we did not know about this, we would have gone to see it.
    Very interesting!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  40. Gypsea NurseJune 28, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Now that is something!
    You captured it great!
    Have a wonderful week!
    Smiles~
    Cat

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  41. A Bit of the BlarneyJune 28, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    This is amazing!!! Wow! Cathy

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  42. AnonymousJune 28, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Oh Pat thank you for sharing!
    This is amazing...I hope I get to see it sometime :D
    BEAR HUGS
    ~victoria~

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  43. GracieJune 28, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    How nice! I like very much permanent exhibitions open up in the city!

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  44. CathyJune 28, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    The Bean is amazing. I took lots of pictures too when I was visiting my daughter last summer. Your shots are fantastic, Pat. Don't you just love that city!

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  45. HaddockJune 29, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    The power to think and create.... used the right way.

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