The Fredösphere

One more entry to my Chicago diary.

Millennium Park is just north of the Art Institute, and during our weekend visit we took a few minutes to walk through it.  I wanted the kids to see the Bean, and they did get to look at it, or more accurately, the got a look at themselves reflected in its perfectly polished surface.  I was surprised that only one end was exposed; most was covered while workers busily ... did something to it, maybe polished it.  I suppose it would be doubly appropriate if the workers were all Polish, this being Chicago and all.

It turns out the bean is mostly covered because the bit they left exposed is all that you are allowed to look at under the "Fair Use" provision of U.S. copyright law.  Or something.  A guard was there to ensure no persons left the area with an imprint of the bean lingering on their retinas.  (No, I'm joking.)

I liked the other prominent feature of the park, which is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry.  I'm going to surprise you by not venting my impotent rage at yet another arbitrary, self-indulgent Gehry design -- not in this case.  The curlicues atop the orchestra shell are pure decoration, and belong (to my mind) in the category not of architecture, but rather sculpture, or architectural ornament.  No functional discipline is required of sculpture, so these goofy cowlicks in stainless steel do not offend me in the least.  And since I didn't pay for its construction, the 500% cost overrun is also no problem.