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| Scientific Pinwheels quilt layout |
DH and I flew to Chicago last weekend for baseball. We'd had the trip planned since last year and he encouraged me to take a break. I could have taken a photo of the entire Wrigley's sign but loved that the Cubs flew state, city, and team flags for their opponents. We arrived early the first day for a stadium tour. Wrigley Field is the second oldest baseball stadium. Their rich history combines well with some recent updates.
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| Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs |
The next day we toured the Chicago Institute of Art. Silly me. I thought it was mainly a school but they have an enormous collection of art: paintings, sculptures, textiles, artifacts. Having learned from previous experience we selected five galleries to tour thoroughly and left the rest for another visit.
I never realized Seurat's painting was so large. And there was always a crowd in front of it.
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| Crowds viewing A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, 1884. |
The painted border is an interesting detail I never knew existed. This is not a mat. It's painted on the edge of the canvas. So quilters aren't the only ones who add borders.
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| Detail of the border of A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, 1884. |
I thought this was a "one-off" paint technique until I saw Vincent van Gogh's Fishing in Spring, the Pont de Clichy (Asnieres) nearby. Influenced by Paul Signac and Georges Seurat, the Neo-Impressionist style emphasizes scientific use of color theory. You can see many aspects of Seurat's technique in this painting including the bright red mat Vincent painted around his picture.
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| Fishing in Spring, the Pont de Clichy (Asnieres) by Vincent van Gogh, 1887. |
Chicagoans rallied to preserve their city's landmarks and the Chicago Architecture Foundation leads river tours of the varied skyscrapers of downtown. We thoroughly enjoyed ending the day with a sunset cruise while watching the lights go on. So informative, so lovely.
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| Nighttime Chicago skyline from the river |
When buildings are torn down, artifacts are offered to various foundations and museums. The Institute displayed several in their Grand Staircase. Don't you love the Art Deco elevator screen?
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| Artifacts of Chicago's past at the Institute of Art |
Now that we're home I can finish the Scientific Pinwheel quilt. Good thing because the new dad visits soon.
Enjoy the day, Ann
