Cloud Gate -- Chicago's Newest Provocative Sculpture... shown at BILLSLATER.COM

Cloud Gate

Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team
2013 Stanley Cup Championship Winners
June 24, 2013

Cloud Gate in Chicago
at the Unveiling
July 16, 2004
Cloud Gate was Officially Dedicated on May 15, 2006

(Picture by E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune)

Who created this?

Anish Kapoor, who is an Indian sculptor originally from Bombay, but now residing and working in London. He designed it, and the City of Chicago Millennium Park Project folks created it.

Anish Kapoor, on the right, is photographed with his masterpiece.

Where is it?

In Chicago's newly opened, Millennium Park on the north east side of the park. This is on the Chicago lakefront north of Grant Park. Click here to see Cloud Gate's actual location in a diagram of Millennium Park.

How much did it cost?

The original cost estimate was $9 million, but project complications led to a final cost of $23 million.

Dimensions and size?

66 feet long
33 feet high
42 feet wide
Weight: 110-tons

Materials:

Stainless steel plates over a fortified steel frame. Under these plates, it is actually hollow on the inside. It was built and finished in place, on site because it was too heavy, bulky and dangerous to transport as one completed piece into Downtown Chicago. Also, after it was built, it had to be polished and have its seams removed, giving the appearance of being one large shiny object, instead of being the sum of many shiny stainless steal plates.

Does it have any other names?

"The Bean," "The Chicago Bean," "That Big Shiny Thing in Millennium Park"

What are people saying?

Most provocative artwork since Picasso's Chicago sculpture from August 1967.

My personal observations and comments:

Cloud Gate is a magnificent, magical art piece that adds a great deal to Chicago and its people. First of all, it looks like a timeless, but futuristic object that has magically transported here from some time in the distant future. Next, it draws you in and makes you feel like a kid again as you feel compelled to explore it. The quality of the design and craftsmanship are obvious as you approach to study its huge smooth shiny, curvy surface. Finally, like an enormous magical curvy mirror, it portrays you, all the people around it, and the cityscape in a way that amazes you and makes you happy.

You simply have to go visit Cloud Gate in Chicago's Millennium Park. As far as static art that appears to be interactive and compels you to interact with it, Cloud Gate is the ultimate right now, certainly in the U.S., but probably in the whole world!

	Cloud Gate Gallery

	Cloud Gate in Chicago (looking west) (Picture From the ChicagoTribune.com, August 19, 2004 photograph by Charles Osgood, Photographer)

	Cloud Gate during a Snowstorm (looking west) March 5, 2013 (Photographer Brian Kersey.)
	Cloud Gate in Chicago Artist's Conception (Picture From Chicago Tribune)		Cloud Gate in Chicago Artist's Conception (Picture From the Millennium Park Website.)

	Cloud Gate Gallery of My Own Photos
	Cloud Gate at night, north end of the sculpture. August 6, 2004 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)		The Bride Discovers Cloud Gate at night, East side end of the sculpture. August 6, 2004 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)

	Cloud Gate, north end of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)		Cloud Gate, north end of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)

	Cloud Gate, up close (self-phoographed) June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)		Cloud Gate, east end of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)

	Cloud Gate, east end of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)		Cloud Gate, inside the center of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)

	Cloud Gate, looking west from inside the center of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)		Cloud Gate, inside the center of the sculpture. June 24, 2006 (photograph by William F. Slater, III)