A new Chicago EYE-con

It is true - the puns have been overplayed since the unveiling of Tony Tasset's "Eye" sculpture. Just to list a few:

- EYE-conic

- EYEsore
- EYE-catching

- EYE-popping

I could probably go on forever. But I won't. I would just like to state for the record that working for the Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) on their public art initiative, Art Loop 2010, has been a true pleasure. I am not only talking about the expansive coverage it has received, but I am also proud that I got to be a party of something so monumental. I don't care how many times I take the Brown Line past Pritzker Park, I still get giddy as the train rounds the corner and the brilliant iris comes into view.

Tasset's oddly beautiful yest grotesque sculpture has garnered attention around the world from India to Wichita, Kansas. Some have marveled at its beauty while others mark its lack of subtly. To see some of the more creative interpretations visit BBC's Magazine Monitor: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2010/07/caption_competition_142.shtml.

CLA has made a commitment to develop and support artistic, cultural and public events in the Loop. Recently, many of their efforts have been toward a public art initiative. I have come to find that public art either evokes a positive or negative reaction - hardly anything in between. Personally, I am a big supporter of public art. I was fortunate enough to grow up in downtown Chicago. As a child I was fascinated by "Cows on Parade." I even had a chance to help my elementary school art teacher create her own cow that was proudly displayed on the streets of Chicago. These kinds of initiatives put our humble city on the map and continues to foster Chicago's reputation as a notable cultural destination.

Stay tuned for CLA's next project - ART LOOP OPEN!