Chicago Adventures: Evening at the Art Institute of Chicago

The view from the Nichols Bridgeway outside the Art Institute of Chicago.

Since I moved to Chicago, I've been amazed at all the cultural opportunities that have opened up as far as accessibility goes. Sure there have been a few roadblocks, like last year's impasse with Social Media Week Chicago, but they only serve to make me more determined. 

Looking back over the past several decades, the positive changes are impressive. There's video relay service, texting, captioning devices at the movie theater, and many other technological advances. I often wonder where I would be today if only these had been available when I was in high school, college or even the first several years of my professional life. 

Here in Chicago, I've been able to participate in a lot of new experiences, and one of those just happened last week. I've gone to the Art Institute of Chicago several times, but have never gone on a guided tour or lecture. Last week I got to go on a Sign Language Gallery Talk at the Art Institute. 

The tour was presented by a deaf graduate student in American Sign Language and voice interpreted. This was the third in a series, but the first one I was able to attend. It was, in a word, amazing! It was refreshing to be able to interact directly with the speaker and not receive the information secondhand. If I wanted to ask a question, I could -- and I didn't have to worry about being behind in the conversation or misunderstanding something. Communication was easy -- something many people take for granted but I usually have to work hard at every day. 

The first stop on the sign language gallery talk:
Woman Reading in a Garden by Mary Cassatt.

I'm already looking forward to the next gallery talk, which is tentatively set for the fourth Thursday in April. Noel King, the graduate student who presents the talk, is graduating in May but the Art Institute hopes to continue the gallery talks if there is enough interest.     

Noel King talking about Sky Above Clouds IV by Georgia O'Keeffe
(Not the best photo -- I was engrossed in the lecture &
didn't pay much attention to the photos I was taking.)

A slice of the museum--love the architecture
almost as much as the art! 

Thoughtful Thursday

8x8 Gallery // 365 Project: Week 12

I've committed to a photo-a-day project this year. Three hundred sixty five photos. Every single day. No latergrams (what we call photos taken more than a day earlier in the Instagram world). The project was inspired by Myk Little, one of several photographer friends I've made via the Instagram community in Chicago. Here's week 12:

78/365: Waiting For Spring

79/365: It's The Little Things

80/365: Good Morning, Chicago! 

81/365: A Dingo In His Natural Habitat

82/365: Walking In A Spring Wonderland

83/365: Meltdown

84/365: Evening Walk

Weekend Adventures: (Just After) Sunrise at 360 Chicago

Last weekend was the 11th annual World Wide Instameet weekend (#WWIM11), and the Chicago Instagram community did it up big! I knew of three fantastic meetups and while I wanted to go to all of them, I could only fit one into my plans. And it meant heading into Chicago on a 5:28 a.m. train! (I think the last time I got up before 5 a.m. was for a horse show.) 

For the first time ever, the 94th-floor observation deck of the Hancock Center was open during sunrise, thanks to Chitecture and 360 Chicago. While the doors opened at 6 a.m., I missed out on the sunrise opportunity -- I was in yoga class when the tickets were first released and they sold out almost immediately. However, I was lucky enough to get one of a second round of 100 tickets released for 7:30 admission. I may have missed the sunrise, but I still got to go up for some of the early morning light and check out the new Tilt feature at 360 Chicago. I still can't believe I TILTED 30 degrees with only a pane of glass holding me 94 floors up over Chicago. For the record: it was awesome and I would do it again! 

Lake Shore Drive

Tilt in action

Hancock Center

Looking down from Tilt!

Thoughtful Thursday

8x8 Gallery // 365 Project: Week 11

I've committed to a photo-a-day project this year. Three hundred sixty five photos. Every single day. No latergrams (what we call photos taken more than a day earlier in the Instagram world). The project was inspired by Myk Little, one of several photographer friends I've made via the Instagram community in Chicago. Here's week 11:

71/365: Fly By Sunset

72/365: Mr. Observant

73/365: Feelin' Green -- the annual dyeing of the Chicago River

74/365: Spring pretties, spotted on my run at the Morton Arboretum

75/365: Scratch n' Sniff at the Chicago Flower Show

76/365: Skyline

77/365: Camouflage

Weekend Adventures: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I went to Chicago for the traditional river dyeing Saturday -- it's always a fun event and a great time to take photos. This year, the weather was cooperative (last year, not so much). Temperatures were in the high 60s, the sun was shining...what more could you want? 

It almost looks Photoshopped, doesn't it?

Just a "few" people gathered to check out the river.

The Chicago Water Taxi was back in service for St. Patrick's Day. I treated myself to a ride -- there's no better way to see the river! 

Mandatory selfie...

Thoughtful Thursday

Photo taken at the Morton Arboretum March 10, 2015. 

8x8 Gallery // 365 Project: Week 10

I've committed to a photo-a-day project this year. Three hundred sixty five photos. Every single day. No latergrams (what we call photos taken more than a day earlier in the Instagram world). The project was inspired by Myk Little, one of several photographer friends I've made via the Instagram community in Chicago. Here's week 10: 

64/365: Glazed. Chased the sunset on the west side of the Morton Arboretum on another cold March day. 

65/365: Weekend? Yes please! 

66/365: Celebrated international Women's Day an evening early with a great group of women!

67/365: Rupert. One of the great therapy horses at Partners for Progress. 

68/365: Don't leave me here! 

69/365: F a d e  a w a y  Spent a foggy morning at the Morton Arboretum. Another post with more photos coming soon! 

70/365: Sunbather 

Thoughtful Thursday

8x8 Gallery // 365 Project: Week 9

I've committed to a photo-a-day project this year. Three hundred sixty five photos. Every single day. No latergrams (what we call photos taken more than a day earlier in the Instagram world). The project was inspired by Myk Little, one of several photographer friends I've made via the Instagram community in Chicago. Here's week 9: 

57/365: Do I have something on my face? Glad someone is enjoying the snow! 

58/365: Happy Mail. I won a set of 6x6 prints from PrintShop at the last IgersChicago meetup, and they arrived in the mail. I love them! The museum-quality prints are top-notch, and I'm planning on ordering more prints soon. 

59/365: Standing Alone

60/365: Today was better than yesterday. 

61/365: Happy I've kept two pots of succulents green & alive through this l o n g winter. Going to try repotting the "pups" for a writing project soon! 

62/365: Chasing off the winter chill by making some chicken-quinoa soup in the crock pot. I have a good helper in the kitchen! 

63/365: Frozen. Although we've had some beautiful sunsets this winter, let's be honest.... I can't wait until it's warm enough to stay out and take photos without freezing my fingers and other body parts! Just a few more days!