On Tuesday, September 25th, the Honors Exploring Chicago class went on a trip to Chicago. Groups of three were sent to different locations to take note of the area. I was sent to Millennium Park, and the following are some observations about what I saw.
The first thing I noticed coming upon Millennium Park by way of Monroe Street at Michigan Avenue was the architecture of the buildings surrounding the park. The design of the buildings had a classical feel. The limestone brought thoughts of the spirit of the Chicagoans after the great Chicago Fire, and the massive circular archways and pillars reminded me of a time when the focus was not merely on practicality, but of beauty in design. Not only are these sights breathtaking, they are also thought provoking as they sit next to mile-high sky scrapers made of metal and glass. The juxtaposition of new and old gives one a sense of history and how far we’ve come – Almost a nostalgia for a time one has never been in, and a pride for an accomplishment one has never been a part of. Take a moment to look at this picture of the Chicago Public Library, set against the background of modern buildings –
Upon entering the park, I witnessed another aspect of Chicago that has come to define its soul; the arts. There are sculptures here and there, each as intriguing as the next, but there is no better example of the arts than the theatre situated under an enormous metal sculpture. Were I a more proficient wordsmith I might attempt a description, but I believe I would only do a disservice. Following the adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, these thousand may be among the most inspiring I’ve ever heard -
Another, more subtle aspect of Chicago can be seen, rather heard, if one pays close attention. Conversations are being carried on in a plethora of languages. In only a couple of hours I noticed Chinese/Japanese (through my ignorance I cannot distinguish the difference), German, and Spanish, among others that I did not recognize. Signs read in at least 5 languages. This huge diversity of people is representative of the hub that is Chicago. People come from all around the world to make it here, and they preserve their culture when they arrive, making Chicago an amazingly intercultural city.
In closing, I will echo the sentiments of The Chairman of the Board; this truly is my kind of town.
Josh Zuke
09-26-07
Credit For Photos :
2 comments:
I'm happy to hear that you had a good experience in the city. There's a great architecture tour available in the city and we're hoping to offer such an opportunity in class. I hope you can check it out!
Josh--
Great use of (and credit for) other people's photos. Nice report, also.
Peg
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