On Thursday, Jan and I took the train in from her home in Wheaton to Chicago to go to the Art Institute. Before entering, she showed me the new Millenium Park, just outside the museum. It was a hot day, and the crowd around the Crown Fountain was delighted to be able to splash-dance. 
Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the fountain features light, water and video images reflected off glass bricks. Water cascades down, continously, but every so often the faces purse their lips and WHOOSH! Out comes a concentrated spray of water like a firehose. The kids were ecstatic, and watching them made me want to be five again!
Then we moved on to Anish Kapoor's 110 ton, 66 foot long/33 foot high elliptical sculpture, the Cloud Gate.
In comparison to Calder's Flamingo at the Federal Center Plaza and the Daley Center's Picasso sculpture , I think Cloud Gate is something for the city to celebrate. It's much more engaging--wonderfully reflecting the skyline behind you as you face it.
Kudos to Mayor Daley and the people of Chicago for creating an important and inviting public space. It will be even more widely appreciated when you welcome the world for the 2016 Olympic games! (grin)
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