"Cloud Gate"

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend an entire afternoon lounging around Chicago’s Millenium Park. The grounds themselves are quite fantastic (spanning almost 25 acres) but the highlight for me was seeing Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate”, a massive bean-shaped sculpture that seamlessly reflects the Chicago skyline.

Drawing its inspiration from liquid mercury, Kapoor's installation was constructed out of stainless steel plates so people could “see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work.” Brilliant, how the background comes to the forefront, allowing pedestrians to become active participants in the magnificent view that surrounds them. Best of all? Lone tourists never have to worry about being excluded from a photograph.

Simplicity

"Our life is frittered away by detail...simplify, simplify."
~Thoreau

My foundation year life drawing classes at OCA were fairly painful. Not because of my inability to draw, but because of my tendancy to gravitate towards the complexities. Instead of beginning with an overall gesture, I would focus in on the eyes, the lashes, the pupils, the cheekbone...before long, the three hours of studio time would be gone and I'd be scrambling to capture the 'big picture'. Paul Young, my instructor, was rarely impressed. (Then again, he also referred to non-artisans as 'civilians'.)

It's all too easy to become absorbed by the details. But after seeing this band perform over the weekend, I was reminded of how refreshing it is to surround yourself with simplicity.

June

June is 'bursting out all over the place'...