The Barcelona artist Jaume Plensa is best-known for his spectacular Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, Chicago. Constructed between 1999 and 2004 with support from the Crown Foundation, this work features water cascading down two monumental towers, as well as video and lighting effects. Alternating images recorded on video by Plensa show the faces of 1,000 Chicagoans from all segments of society. Every 12 minutes these faces transform into gargoyles reminiscent of traditional fountains. Plensa's Crown Fountain, which swiftly became a popular public attraction, is comprehensively presented in this monograph, along with an extensive chronology of his multi-faceted oeuvre.
""Chicago's Fabulous Fountains" presents in words and pictures many of the more than one hundred outdoor public fountains in Chicago, informing readers about their origin and place in the city"--
"Upon opening on July 16, 2004, Chicago's Millennium Park was hailed as one of the world's most important millennium projects. Timothy Gilfoyle's biography of this phenomenal undertaking begins over a hundred years ago - when the site of the park was still part of Lake Michigan - and takes readers right up to the present day. Drawing on the author's comprehensive understanding of Chicago history, interviews with planners, artists, and public officials; and careful documentation of the park's financing and construction, Millennium Park is a thoroughly readable and illustrated testament to the park, the city, and all those attempting to think and act on a global scale. And underlying this history are revelations about the globalization of art, the use of culture as an engine of economic expansion, and the nature of political and philanthropic power."--BOOK JACKET.
2018 IPPY Award Silver Medalist for Great Lakes Nonfiction Winner, ISHS Annual Award for Other Publications, 2018 Most people do not realize it, but Chicago is home to many diverse, artistic, fascinating, and architecturally and historically important fountains. In this attractive volume, Greg Borzo reveals more than one hundred outdoor public fountains of Chicago with noteworthy, amusing, or surprising stories about these gems. Complementing Borzo’s engagingly written text are around one hundred beautiful fine-art color photos of the fountains, taken by photographer Julia Thiel for this book, and a smaller number of historical photos. Greg Borzo begins by providing an overview of Chicago’s fountains and discussing the oldest ones, explaining who built them and why, how they survived as long as they have, and what they tell us about early Chicago. At the heart of the book are four thematic chapters on drinking fountains, iconic fountains, plaza fountains, and park and parkway fountains. Among the iconic fountains described are Buckingham (in Grant Park), Crown (in Millennium Park), Centennial (with its water cannon shooting over the Chicago River), and two fountains designed by famed sculptor Lorado Taft (Time and Great Lakes). Plazas all around Chicago—in the neighborhoods as well as downtown—have fountains that anchor communities or enhance the skyscrapers they adorn. Also presented are the fountains in Chicago’s parks, some designed by renowned artists and many often overlooked or taken for granted. A chapter on the self-proclaimed City of Fountains, Kansas City, Missouri, shows how Chicago’s city planners could raise public awareness and funding for the care and preservation of these important landmarks. Also covered are a brief period of fountain building and rehabbing (1997–2002) that vastly enriched the city; fountains that no longer exist; and proposed Chicago fountains that were never built, as well as the future of fountain design. A beautiful photography book and a guide to the city’s many fountains, Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains also provides fascinating histories and behind-the-scenes stories of these underappreciated artistic and architectural treasures of the Windy City.
With the help of Elan Penn's glorious images, university professor and public historian Dennis Cremin leads us on a spectacular tour of the windy city. Visit beloved landmarks and great institutions, such as the Water Tower, Hull House, and Navy Pier, and learn about Chicago's history from the settlement days to the grand metropolis we know today. Celebrate world-renowned cultural sites, such as the Art Institute, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, as well as brilliant newcomers, including the Mexican Fine Arts Museum. Walk through the beautiful city-created Millennium Park, a spectacular result of the partnership between public and private sectors. Gaze at the economic, political, and artistic structures that marked Chicago's budding cityscape in the past, and still remain today: the Stock Yards Entrance, Pilgrim Baptist Church, and Lincoln Park's Bates Fountain. This collection truly captures the essence of a great city.
Written by locals, Fodor’s Chicago is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out their visit. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Chicago travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Fodor's Chicago is the perfect companion for a trip to this quintessential American city. With colorful features and the most updated information, Fodor's Chicago gets straight to the best of what the "Second City" has to offer, everything from art and architecture to shopping, baseball, jazz, and the very best deep-dish pizza. Our in-depth coverage also includes the best of Chicago's culturally and historically rich suburbs, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park home studio, the Mallott Japanese Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Brookfield Zoo. Fodor’s Chicago includes: •UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE: Fully updated, including fresh reviews of the best new eateries and lodgings in Chicago's many exciting neighborhoods. •ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE: A spectacular color photo guide highlights the ultimate unmissable experiences and attractions throughout Chicago to inspire you. •DETAILED MAPS: Full-color and full-size street maps throughout will help you plan efficiently and get around confidently. •GORGEOUS PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Rich, full-color features invite you to experience the best of Chicago, from what to eat and drink to which tours take. An in-depth illustrated feature on the Art Institute of Chicago helps you make the most of a visit to this magnificent museum; a history of the skyscraper explores the city's iconic architecture. Other features focus on the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright and blues music. •ITINERARIES AND TOP RECOMMENDATIONS: Walking tours help you plan and make the most of your time to explore Chicago's best public art and iconic architectural highlights. A useful itinerary helps you plan three days in the windy city. Includes suggestions on what to see, where to eat, stay, and shop as well as information about nightlife, sports and the outdoors. “Fodor’s Choice” designates our best picks in every category. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Convenient overviews show each neighborhood and its highlights, as well as tips for planning your time and getting around by car, bus, and train. Mapped walks, top tour recommendations, and our curated list of free things to do make planning a breeze. •SPECIAL EVENT COVERAGE: Information for experiencing the Chicago Air and Water Show , the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the Taste of Chicago, to name just a few. •COVERS: The Magnificent Mile, the Chicago Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Wrigley Field, Navy Pier, the Loop, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and more. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. Planning on visiting other great U. S. cities? Check out Fodor’s Washington D.C., Fodor's New Orleans, and Fodor’s New York.
Public Art in Chicago collects writings published in the Chicago Tribune about more than 40 of Chicago's most famous and memorable installations of public art: sculptures, statues, fountains, mosaics, murals, and more. The articles included here were published between 1887 and the present and include original commentaries published when these artworks were first installed as well as retrospective appreciations of how they have been received over time. Some of the works discussed here were temporary and are no longer on display. Some are prominent—the Picasso, for example—and others are lesser-known treasures tucked away in hidden corners of the city. The stories told by the articles selected for this edition are not complete histories of the artworks. The articles offer historical and retrospective snapshots of artworks that have become cherished—and infamous—markers in Chicago's urban landscape. Taken collectively, these articles provide a partial testimony of Chicago's commitment to public art and to its citizens' thoughtful engagement with it. Each artwork is introduced with a title, year of installation, artist name, and a descriptive location of where the artwork is located within the city. Readers will find article headlines, publication dates and bylines, when the original article ran with one, below this general information. Covering a broad range of artistic periods and containing a wide variety of perspectives, Public Art in Chicago is a unique and educational guide for any Chicagoan or visitor with artistic curiosity.
