The Perfect Balance

While I was in Chicago, I had the chance to view an up and coming artist’s first solo show. His name is Willy Chyr and he is one of the few selected artists to have his work featured on a Beck’s bottle (limited time offer, go and purchase!).

My boyfriend Charles roomed with Willy in college so he had the privilege of witnessing the buddings of an aspiring artist. Willy’s work explores scientific concepts, theorems, and microscopic organisms through computer generation and balloons.

One of the grandiose installations

I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly before exploring his show. Energetic, charismatic, I would liken him to an excitable rocket scientist; he seemed like he was always on the brink of a new idea. That energy translated very clearly in his work.

By the time we got to the gallery, some of the balloons had started to deflate, but that’s part of the show. The pieces are to be left up until fully deflated, to emphasize the temporal, ephemeral nature of his work.

A young artist who found the perfect balance between his scientific and artistic pursuits. Lovely meeting you Willy. 

A Weekend Away

I’m an NYC girl at heart, but I think Chicago definitely gives New York a run for its money. SO CLEAN, like a less corrupt, less dark, more architecturally interesting Gotham City. Oh and no Batman boo.

Beautiful buildings and above ground subway stations! It was very inspiring to just walk around the streets, admiring everything. Also ate my way through the weekend, deep dish pizza, hot dogs, burgers, milkshakes, you name it. I was very thankful for how the city is so sprawling, negated some of that caloric intake with walking I hope.

Park oasis in the midst of a metropolis

Outdoor amphitheater

Really enjoyed the tour of the Robie House and refreshed my knowledge of Frank Lloyd Wright. Entrances are hidden away, prominent horizontal lines, his circle in a square signature, I like observing what I studied in reality, a confirmation that my classes were worthwhile haha. I especially enjoyed experiencing FLW’s implementation of “compression and release”. Walking from the cold and low ceilinged entranceway into the airy and spacious living/dining room was almost theatrical.

Inviting wanderers to explore the rest of the house...

It was a lovely weekend trip, left enough to see and do for a future trip.  

Museum Wanderings

I love art museums. Surrounded by beautiful things, quiet, informative, mazes of countless rooms, I consider art museums havens. Time and obligations melt away and I’m surrounded by only the most stirring works. I especially love going alone. Experiences and reactions to the art deeply personal, uninfluenced, and wholly my own. I always leave starry eyed and inspired. 

My annual membership to the MoMA was probably the best purchase I've ever made. Product discounts, exclusive exhibit previews, special lectures? SCORE.

I'm Talkin Bout Chi-town

This past weekend, I went to Chicago. Before I left, I drew up a list of all the places I wanted to visit and coincidentally enough, they all happened to be restaurants. What can I say? I LOVE TO EAT. Deep dish pizza, hot dogs, Italian beef, my belly was ready for Chicago. I seriously considered adopting some competitive eating techniques (e.g. eating tons of iceberg lettuce to stretch my stomach) for preparation? Thought that might’ve been a wee too much?

I was equally excited about the architecture. While my experience with architectural styles has been limited, I am a huge admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie Style. Clean, crisp, and incorporated seamlessly into surroundings. Falling Water is out in Pennsylvania but I had the opportunity to see the Robie House. It’s located directly across from the University of Chicago’s business school and the school’s style is modeled after the Robie House, creating this powerful stylistic dual between the two buildings.

Robie House

Booth School of Business

Love exploring unfamiliar cities.

"Untitled"

I don’t want to define what this blog will be about yet. I rarely focus on one thing for an extended amount of time (which probably explains why I can never finish books and end up reading Wiki articles on the endings). This will merely serve as a collection of my thoughts, interests, indulgences, whatever comes buzzing along and captures my attention.

I hope this blog captures your attention and entertains you, even if only for a fleeting moment. More to come. J