Art Institute of Chicago

Sep12

Art Institute of Chicago Buildings Getting a Makeover

Written By Editor on September 12, 2019 in art, Grant Park, Michigan Avenue, museums, renovation, The Loop, _story

One of the city’s most important buildings is in for a change. Spanish architecture powerhouse Barozzi/Veiga plans to transform the Art Institute of Chicago’s multi-building campus which sprawls across the Metra tracks in Grant Park. The Art Institute’s good side (file) The company is named for its founders, Fabrizio Barozzi and Alberto Veiga. We wanted to assess their museum chops, but unfortunately, there’s...

Nov29

Slice of Life: No One Bitten At Wreathing Of The Lions

Written By Bill Motchan on November 29, 2014 in Christmas, Michigan Avenue, The Loop, _story

Standing on a frigid Black Friday morning alongside a couple of hundred other animal lovers, I came up with a joke. Question: How do you put a wreath on a lion? Answer: Very carefully. I realize this probably won’t get me an audition at Second City. But when the lions are quite huge and made of bronze, perhaps it’s still a fitting answer. They’ve been standing guard in front of the Art Institute of Chicago (111 South Michigan Avenue)...

Mar24

10 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About The Art Institute of Chicago

Written By Bill Motchan on March 24, 2014 in architecture, Michigan Avenue, museums, The Loop, _story

Thousands of people walk through the Chicago Art Institute every year to see “American Gothic” and “Nighthawks.” Students of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” can check out “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” But only the true architecture geek will bypass the historic works of art on display at Michigan Avenue and Monroe in favor of the architectural curiosities of the grand old building. How much do you know about the...

Feb15

Slice of Life: The Stacking Lions

Written By Editor on February 15, 2013 in Grant Park, slice of life, The Loop

Outside the Art Institute of Chicago (111 South Michigan Avenue)… It’s a lion… inside of another lion! I’m a genius! I should have gone to art...

Jan06

Inside Studio Gang Architects Exhibit Features Works By Celebrated Chicago Firm

Written By Bill Motchan on January 6, 2013 in architects, Hyde Park, Lakeshore East, museums, The Loop, _story

When the City Hyde Park mixed-use development (1501 East Hyde Park Boulevard) is completed in 2014, residential units will boast an innovative balcony construction without external bracing. The result will be column-free views and balconies extending farther from the building. The creative design of the South Side project is typical of the work of Studio Gang Architects (SGA). City Hyde Park and a dozen other SGA projects are featured...

Jun14

Hot Model: Untitled Picasso

Written By Editor on June 14, 2011 in Grant Park, Hot Models, The Loop

At some point in a building’s life, whether it be before, or after, or during construction, a model of the building is made. Very often these models end up hidden away in offices, closets, and storage spaces where they can’t be appreciated by the public. But every once in a while, one of these smoking hot models escapes and is on public view. This is one: This is the model that Pablo Picasso made of the untitled...

Nov10

One Way to Avoid the Splat of Birds

Written By Editor on November 10, 2009 in nature, The Loop

As long as people have been putting using glass in buildings, birds have been smacking into it. Sometimes the buildings are too tall, or in a centuries-old flight path, and sometimes the birds are just … well… bird-brained. This art school in Chicago put stickers of birds on its windows to maybe give the birds a clue that the wild blue yonder doesn’t continue through the glass. I’m not an expert on birds, but...