Alexander Calder Exhibit

Just a short ten minute walk from the Knickerbocker is Chicago’s own Museum of Contemporary Art located just two blocks behind the Michigan Avenue Visitor’s Center. Now through October, they have a very impressive exhibit of one of America’s most recognized modern artists Alexander Calder.

Alexander Calder is known for his large mobiles and stabiles located throughout the world. Calder became famous in the 1960’s after several of his large scale pieces were commissioned for the Olympics in Mexico City and JFK airport. Locally, Calder is the artist who created the “Flamingo” statue in front of the Federal Center Plaza and the city even had a parade in his honor in 1974.

The exhibit at the MCA displays many of Calder’s smaller works including several stabiles and mobiles. The large exhibit space is divided into his bronze work, animal imagery and centrally located is one of my favorites, Spiders. It really is a good representation of his work and legacy.

Across the hall are exhibits from various artists that have been influenced by Calder and his artistic style. It is a really nice mixture of and American iconic artist and his influences.

The MCA is open Tuesdays from 10am until 8pm. Tuesdays are also free all day. During the summer, there is a small farmer’s market that sets up in front of the museum with local vendors selling everything from pastries to produce. Wednesdays through Sundays, the museum is open from 10am – 5pm at a suggested admission of $12 for adults and $7 from seniors and students. Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant is available for lunch with an express counter available for food during open hours.

Enjoy!
Jeff

Chicago’s Nicknames

Most people know Chicago as the Windy City, but a lot of people don’t know how that nickname came to be and that Chicago has several other lesser know nicknames as well. Many theories have come about regarding the naming of Chicago including references to the weather, the city’s rivalry with Cincinnati and the bidding for the World’s Exposition in the late 1800’s.

Although most people think that weather has a lot to do with the nicknaming of Chicago (as well as those of us who live here and experience the crazy wind bursts), the nickname has been blamed on boosters who used to go up and down the East Coast bragging about the wonders of Chicago. News articles started using the phrase “Windy City” in the late 1800’s, just about the same time that Chicago and New York both were vying for the World’s Exposition.

Modeled in a grid pattern, Chicago streets seem to form a wind tunnel that cools the summer visitor and freezes the winter commuter. Even so, Chicago winds are no stronger than those in New York City, just barely stronger than LA and not even as strong as Boston!!

Other nicknames include The Second City from a derogatory article in a 1950’s New Yorker article which is now the name of one of the most famous comedy troups in the US. Chi-town or Chitown is a shortened version of Chicago Town. The poet Carl Sandburg in a 1916 poem referred to Chicago as the “City of Big Shoulders”.

Some lesser known nicknames include:
City in a Garden, the translation of the motto on the city seal
Paris on the Prairie, given by famous architect Daniel Burnham in his plan of Chicago
Chi-city, Kayne West’s version of Chi-town
The Miami of Canada, referred to by Mr. Burns on the Simpson’s
My Kind of Town, song made famous by Mr. Frank Sinatra

Whatever you call it, Chicago is a city with a lot of passion: passionate for sports, music food and the arts.

Enjoy!
Jeff