For the past 11 years, I do what most mid-westerns do; I head out to Chicago for the Fourth of July weekend. I enjoy the windy city and its independence celebration: Navy Pier, The Taste, Millennium Park, and of course the fireworks. Sadly, even the economic disparity has affected a 30 year tradition–This year’s spectacular show was on a tight budget… but that didn’t stop the artist from capitalizing on the influx of visitors. Even after a decade of visiting the streets of the city, I never noticed to this capacity how much art is all around us! Maybe this blog has ignited the inner artist.
The city streets are filled with musicians, graffiti, and even human art. My first question to you is how do you define art? Is it limited to fine art: ballet, Picasso and Beethoven, or can it encompass scenes of the city? If you close your eyes (not too long if you are alone in the city :) ), but if you close your eyes and breath in the sounds of the city, you can feel it’s rhythm. The beauty is that each city lives to its own beat. These street artists do just that. At the Navy Pier, across from Oprah’s house, there was a live statute. A well dressed man in a classy fourth summer suit, legs crossed, hand on luggage, frozen to perfection. Even his blinks seemed to be frozen in time. For the young and dangerous at heart, there was a street gang of acrobatic stunt dancers. The called themselves, in unison, “we are the concrete entertainers, don’t try this at home.” If I could provide an adage: clap and donate if you are entertained. And for sure we were! Their talents of strength and crowd involvement were well crafted.
I challenge you to take a look around. I bet you’ll see some form of wonderful street artist all summer long.
