Chicago: Art Institute

Of all the places I visited in Chicago, the Art Institute was my hands-down favorite. I went twice and I could have gone again, if I’d had another day in the city. There was so much to see, so much art to appreciate. Here are three of my favorite pieces.

There was a whole room full of Monet paintings and I felt like I could stay in that room forever. I sat on the hard wooden bench taking my time appreciating each painting, one by one. Water lilies, the English series, and wheat stacks. Of all of them, this seascape was my favorite. I’d go back to Chicago just to see this one again.

There’s something about Nighthawks that evokes living in the city, late nights at a dinner, and the mysteries of strangers. I wanted to see this painting because years ago, I read a book that had used it as inspiration (I forget the title) and the description of it had haunted me ever since. It’s a beautiful painting.

Way back in the day, I did some small stained glass pieces, inspired by the beautiful windows in English cathedrals. The windows I loved the most were mostly classical pieces, saints and sinners, bibical stories wrought large in massive windows. Chagall’s windows tell stories of the arts in American, from music to, literature to dance. The piece consists of three panels, this one was my favorite, for the colors and the designs. You can walk right up to the glass and study the etchings and paintings, as well as the joins in the lead. All of it is just amazingly complex and beautiful.

Bonus Piece: Until I saw it in person and read the description, I never knew that American Gothic featured a father and daughter, not a husband and wife. Learn something new every day…

The ability to look deeply is the root of creativity. To see past the ordinary and mundane and get to what might otherwise be invisible.

Rick Rubin