Chicago is home to some really big art too. One of the biggest—and best—collections of monumental outdoor art in America, in fact. Like Alexander Calder’s 53-foot Flamingo in Federal Center Plaza. Maybe I should have started with the Picasso, since that’s the piece that got the ball rolling. But my favorite is Flamingo—I love its grace and energy and lively color.
It all started with the Chicago Picasso. Dedicated back in 1967 by the first Mayor Daley and inexplicably immediately embraced by pretty much the entire city, it was a gift from the artist—even though Picasso never set foot in America during his entire life.
Don’t forget my last article about Dubuffet ….