Deco Spirits

During the original Great Depression, Art Deco and Art Moderne were popular art/architectural styles.  Their futuristic tone encouraged people to believe that a better future would happen.  The current glass and steel Mies van der Rohe is a bit too sterile prison for inspirational purposes.  Let’s enjoy some decorative motifs from downtown Chicago and bemoan the current sad state of architecture.

The Burnham Brothers rebuke to Prohibition (Carbon & Carbide Building)  is now swamped by the glass Smurfit Stone Building.  The slashed diamond of the Smurfit Stone is quite stunning, so the brothers would probably be more upset that their building is now a Hard Rock hotel.

The obsession with glass is usually excused because the glass reflects the river and water.  Or you could go with seahorses on your building:

You get a tree and sailboat, too!  On the downside, there are a few creepy faces:

Let’s cleanse the palate with the Crain’s archway:

The Michigan Avenue bridge tower is pretty snazzy, too.

The prohibitive cost and the lack of artisans ensure that Chicago and other major cities will be glass and steel cages for another 100 years.  When you walk in your own downtown or visit other cities, appreciate the small artistic details that are forever lost.

For the cemetery fans, I will have another round of BNC photos soon and some St. Adalbart.  The battle of the limestone trees will occur next week.  I should also have some finished needlework photos.  I really need to finish some pieces into wall quilts and other items.  Next weekend is a holiday weekend for me, so the odds are good.

Let’s end with a contemplative Preston – trying to understand why he wasn’t selected for the Celebrating Greyhounds 2012 calendar.