by Sophie S.
Member since:
January 25, 2007

Chicago's Newest Art Piece A Bust

February 22, 2008 02:19 AM EST
views: 128 | comments: 31

I wrote an article here on Gather a couple months back about the newest art exhibit that was to come to Chicago.  Well it came, and I have never been as disappointed in art as I was about this piece.

Overall, Chicago has very good taste.  I have liked or was able to look at a piece with some appreciation for what the artist was getting at.  Not so with this one.  But I am not sure it is all the artist's fault. 

The piece was dubbed the Popsicle, because it was basically a large wall of colored ice that was supposed to transform over time.  Problem being, the wall never changed. 

The wall is exactly the same as it was when it went up.  So instead of being a beautiful flowing landscape of colors it resembles a very huge wall of ice with random chunks of colored ice stuck to it. 

The weather changes that were expected to melt the colored ice blocks during the day and then refreeze the results at night never came, it has been extremely cold in Chicago over the last month. 

Went back yesterday after our flight got in to see if any changes have been made on the wall.  Keep in mind that the wall comes down this weekend, so this is it.

Here are the pics I took.     

Panels 1 and 2

  Panels 3 and 4

 And the four of them together

 

 

 
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Comments: 31

Tanya P. Feb 22, 2008, 3:50am EST
Interesting concept, I think. Too bad it proved to be a disappointment.
Haim Kadman Feb 22, 2008, 5:15am EST
No wonder you're disappointed, that's tricks and gimmicks not art.
Digital Diva S. Feb 22, 2008, 6:34am EST
Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.
Jennifer N. Feb 22, 2008, 6:35am EST
Lesson #1. Never plan an art piece to solely work in specific weather. I guess Mother Nature missed the memo to cooperate.

It's kinda pretty, though, just the same.
Maya W. Feb 22, 2008, 6:36am EST
I have a native Chicago friend who claims that there's a Chicago expression used in situations where the outcome is less than desirable.

Usually said with a fatalistic and jaded shrug, it is this: "What're you gonna do?"
Sophie S. Feb 22, 2008, 6:55am EST
lol Maya, thats right!
Roxanne N. Feb 22, 2008, 7:34am EST
I think it was a good idea. And they are nice to look at, but the weather here has been atrocious and hasn't let up. No warm days at all. It's too bad it didn't work out. They should leave it up for another couple of weeks.

The weather is scheduled to warm up this saturday and sunday.
Thank you for sharing.
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Feb 22, 2008, 8:58am EST
Yeah, that's the risk you take when you plan outdoor things - the weather doesn't care! LOL!!! I speak as a person who lives in a town that does a lot of business in outdoor events - the Newport Jazz and Folk festivals, the annual St. Patrick's Parade (it has an 80% bad weather history), and we seem to be a magnet for people who want outdoor weddings by the sea. So I know how tough it is to rely on cooperative weather!
Kimberly Ripley Feb 22, 2008, 9:07am EST
I see why you're disappointed. I suppose if the weather is the cause, they should have made other plans...or exhibited something else.
Sue * Feb 22, 2008, 10:07am EST
Hmmm...well at least the colors are pretty!
jessie voigts Feb 22, 2008, 10:57am EST
i always wish for a large-impact thing - like the gates in NYC...too bad this didn't have it.
Larry H. Feb 22, 2008, 11:52am EST
I won't have to go see it now if it comes here. Thanks for sharing
Debby O. Feb 22, 2008, 1:02pm EST
Living in the east I would never has seen what this was about, so thank you for the pictures.
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Feb 22, 2008, 1:25pm EST
I think they should leave it up longer and see what happens. I think it's a neat idea. Either leave it up longer or help it along! If someone had turned up with a leaf blower, they could have melted it a bit and let it re-freeze.
Toni V. Feb 22, 2008, 5:29pm EST
Well, the idea was there. It sounded like a good idea.
CyberGwen ! Feb 22, 2008, 7:48pm EST
That is a bummer....it did sound like a good idea.
Richard Frisbie Feb 23, 2008, 11:09am EST
I hadn't heard of this. What a neat idea. Unfortunately, Mother Nature must not have read the script. Shame on her!
Aunt Boni H. Feb 24, 2008, 8:44am EST
So................when it gets moved to somewhere with warmer surroundings, and it melts.....who's gonna clean up the mess?

I don't see this as "art"; more like an "experiment" ~ that failed.
Cynthia C. Feb 24, 2008, 9:10am EST
I think it was a pretty neat idea, and agree with what some othershave said, after all the effort, why not leave it up another week.

Jessie mentioned Christos "Gates" which was also a February, big Art event in NYC a few years ago. I loved it. It brought color and joy to the heart of the city during the most depressing time of year.
Sophie, thanks for the review. Sorry it didn't work out. I'm sure the city & the artist are dissapointed as well.
Kim J. Feb 24, 2008, 10:49am EST
I like it, although I wished it would've worked the way it was supposed to....then, again, I wish this weather would notice its now the end of February! I went to the dog show yesterday and its just now warming up a bit....but don't worry, its supposed to drop again to the teens on Tuesday. After another snowstorm!
Brian T. Feb 24, 2008, 11:59am EST
It's Chicago and sometime they just don't think about things like weather and how unpredictable it is.
donna f. Feb 24, 2008, 12:16pm EST
Looks like an overgrown shower curtain to me...
Rebecca D. Feb 24, 2008, 12:22pm EST
The concept is kind of cool...maybe they should just wait to see what happens. At the risk of sounding crass and commercial, I 'd be curious to know what this "art" cost and who paid for it.
Sophie S. Feb 24, 2008, 12:41pm EST
Rebecca, I cant find the original article that I read back in November, but 6 million is what I keep thinking in my head. I remember balking at the price, and then thinking it sure better be worth it especially since we only have it for the month.

Chicago is known for spending a ton for stuff like this, just look at the bill for the park.

It comes down Friday, and so far there is no talk of it staying longer.
Mary Ann S. Feb 24, 2008, 12:45pm EST
it is probably worth a trip to Chicago, just to see it.
Victoria H. Feb 24, 2008, 9:50pm EST
Sounds like it could have and should have been cool. The concept sounds neat anyway. Sounds like the weather didn't comply cooperate.

Thanks for posting to All Photo Essays Here!
Jade C. Feb 25, 2008, 4:14pm EST
that really is disappointing. Any clue what it would look like if the weather was as it was hoped to be?
Debra N. Mar 4, 2008, 9:38am EST
Hmmmm.
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Mar 29, 2008, 8:01pm EDT
I think it is pretty neat..thanks for sharing on all_photos_welcome

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