Hello! My daughter Corey and I traveled to Chicago over the first weekend in May, to see the Sketchbook Project at the Hyde Park Art Center, and it was a terrific trip! BTW, I misspoke in my previous post about the Sketchbook Tour, it wasn't at the Newberry... the Chicago Calligraphy Collective's exhibit was at the Newberry... more about that in a minute!
Exterior of Hyde Park Art Center... VERY nicely done!
"Sculpture" done out of old encyclopedias... cool idea, even more interesting in person...
We were encouraged to sit down and draw and write on a postcard that would be given to the attendees at the next Sketchbook stop, in Portland.
It was cool seeing my book there... I'd forgotten about some of the images I put in it, and the very best part? My daughter didn't want to leave it there... she wanted to sneak my book out of there and take it home with us! And on her postcard, she wrote "Go see Kathy McCreedy's book, she's my mom and I'm SO proud of her!" That really meant a lot to me, as Corey's a bit on the quiet side and has never really said much about my artwork... (I kept her postcard... it meant too much to me to give it away!).
This is Corey on the steps of the gorgeous Newberry Library in Chicago, where we saw the Chicago Calligraphy Collective's outstanding exhibit... I was SO glad we got to see both the exhibit and the library!
This is a window at the downtown Chicago Macy's store on State Street... LOVE the message on the window and love the bikes painted red, hanging in mid air... I want one of those bikes for my garden out in front of our house! Waaaayyy too cool!
We also visited the Merchandise Mart, which was not on our original itinerary, and the shops were closed because it was a Sunday... but it was AMAZING!!! The building itself is just spectacular...
Flowers on the railing at the Merch Mart overlooking the Chicago River...
How amazing is this art deco styled brass mailbox?!? There were two of them on the first floor of the building. I wish I'd had paper and a pencil to do a rubbing of that gorgeous trim work!!!
Another terrific sentiment on a display window!
From what we could tell, the Merchandise Mart is where the folks in Chicago with lots and lots of money go to pick out their tile, fixtures, cabinets, etc. when they redo their kitchens and bathrooms... or perhaps their decorator goes there to pick up samples. Either way the displays were stunning.
This is wallpaper in a display case that evidently has gold leaf running through it... that is an entire bowl filled with gold leaf, and in person it was beyond stunning. I'm sorry the camera couldn't pick up the true effect of what could actually be seen. (I'm thinking this is what photographers refer to when they talk about how a digital camera makes things look "flat").
This is a tiny sample of the brass trim around the elevators at the Merch Mart... this same sort of trim is around every display window, and along the top of the walls where they meet the ceiling... and if you look closely you can see that in the elevator well there is similar brass trim up on the ceiling, underneath the trim on the outside wall. I cannot even begin to imagine what that brass trim would cost in today's dollars.
This little gem of unusual architecture is near State Street and Madison, across from a clothing store I think was named Zara, that Corey HAD to go to... imagine my delight to see this building that is totally surrounded by a huge skyscraper! The windows in the three archways were made up of ripply glass that must have been original, and the mullions in the windows were curved, something I've never seen before! I believe the building is being used as a restaurant now. You can see where the roof at the top meets the new construction above it. How terrific that the house wasn't torn down, as it is a real treasure and a real treat to glance up and see such a delightful little find!
So, that's a recap of our three-day mini vacation to Chicago... the weather was really unpredictable and the blisters on my feet have almost healed... and it was totally worth it to have such a nice weekend with my girl!
NOW GO MAKE SOMETHING!!!
(I'm off to go continue working on my son's wedding invitations... wish me lots of luck!!!)