Quoted by crazy man outside of the Art Institute whom I will probably be on first name basis with by the end of the summer.
Woke up early but decided to sleep in again, of course haha
Finally got out of the high rise nest at 12:45pm after finally deciding what to do
Took the bus up south michigan to my new home, which is definitely like 20 steps up from the museums I've worked for--but for the record, I do miss the homey aspect of all the museums I worked for and grew to love.
AIC is a bit of a homier Met, but that's not saying much since the Met is the epitome of coldness and pretention
AIC has an amazing collection, but their N.A. room, while bigger and better lit than what's at the Met, is pretty lacking. This is, however, coming from a snob who worked with contemporary Native artists all summer and essentially fall (with my thesis). At the end of the day, at least it has its own room, while Southeast Asia is lumped with Islamic and South Asian art in one hall which is literally under the grand staircase.
Still, it's a breathtaking museum and walking around it until my legs hurt and realizing I haven't scratched the surface really got to me.
The Impressionist and modern collections are to die for, the Lichtenstein retrospective currently on show is beyond awesome, and even the Chicago Stock Exchange floor recreated was pretty baller. I was tempted to slip under the velvet ropes to the front of the room on the podium, gesture at the Options chalkboard wall, and yell "PORK BELLY FUTURES FOR 10 CENTS!" and hear it echo through the humongous room. (shout out to Sarah Pearlman who will probably never stumble upon this blog)
I felt deja vu when I was walking (quickly) through Japanese art since I'm pretty sure the Brooklyn Museum has the same layout for its Southeast Asian collection...and then I realized AIC is an amalgamation of the Met, attached to MoMA, with splashes of the Brooklyn--so its conservative, "modern," and progressive in one institution. It's bits and pieces just like its own collection, which has its strong and weak points. But what am I talking about, I worked in a one-room museum dedicated to Chinese American history, an one-artist gas station-turned-museum, and a five (six?) year old art museum that sent its head of education to a high security prison without any previous training in how to coordinate art programs at prisons. This is definitely a winding staircase up from what I have known, museum-wise.
South Michigan Ave looks like 5th or 6th ave, or whatever avenue Tiffany's is on, because all I kept thinking when I got off the bus was how much it looked like the opening sequence of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I am unfortunately not as elegant as Audrey Hepburn, stepping out of a cab with coffee in hand at 6am onto a deserted but proud street, but a little asian girl with a big camera jumping off a crowded bus and navigating through the crowds of other tourists, locals, and local crazies like the man who counts smiles.
Note to self: must find Japanese prints, as per Evan's recommendation
Anyway, after AIC, I took my hungry self to Cafecito (as per Dorian's request) and had an amazing pressed sandwich of chicken, caramelized onions, and guava BBQ sauce. After deciding against a batido (but I will return for one) I stopped by CVS to pick up the remainder of things I'm gonna eventually leave behind, had a CVS employee mock me for my height (but was most likely flirting), and then bus'd back home. Already I am aware that there is a lesbian couple living on the 31st floor of my building, as I bused into and out of the Loop area with 1/2 the couple. I sense Chicago may not be the big anonymous city it tries to imitate (ahemNYCahem).
Instead of Jamon Ruffles, it's ULTIMATE RUFFLES.
Gonna rest for a bit and then walk over to get a burger for dinner and then Chinatown for boba. Gotta get cracking on my research and studying for tomorrow's first day of work!
Update:
Instead of going to get a $12 burger, I opted to stay in Chinatown and get a big ol' box of pad thai and a mango kiwi freeze with lychee jelly from Joy Yee Noodle Shop. The walk over to Chinatown was a little scary but I did it right before sunset and was able to find my way without too many turn arounds and second doubts haha.
Aah so nervous for tomorrow!
Woke up early but decided to sleep in again, of course haha
Finally got out of the high rise nest at 12:45pm after finally deciding what to do
Took the bus up south michigan to my new home, which is definitely like 20 steps up from the museums I've worked for--but for the record, I do miss the homey aspect of all the museums I worked for and grew to love.
AIC is a bit of a homier Met, but that's not saying much since the Met is the epitome of coldness and pretention
AIC has an amazing collection, but their N.A. room, while bigger and better lit than what's at the Met, is pretty lacking. This is, however, coming from a snob who worked with contemporary Native artists all summer and essentially fall (with my thesis). At the end of the day, at least it has its own room, while Southeast Asia is lumped with Islamic and South Asian art in one hall which is literally under the grand staircase.
Still, it's a breathtaking museum and walking around it until my legs hurt and realizing I haven't scratched the surface really got to me.
The Impressionist and modern collections are to die for, the Lichtenstein retrospective currently on show is beyond awesome, and even the Chicago Stock Exchange floor recreated was pretty baller. I was tempted to slip under the velvet ropes to the front of the room on the podium, gesture at the Options chalkboard wall, and yell "PORK BELLY FUTURES FOR 10 CENTS!" and hear it echo through the humongous room. (shout out to Sarah Pearlman who will probably never stumble upon this blog)
I felt deja vu when I was walking (quickly) through Japanese art since I'm pretty sure the Brooklyn Museum has the same layout for its Southeast Asian collection...and then I realized AIC is an amalgamation of the Met, attached to MoMA, with splashes of the Brooklyn--so its conservative, "modern," and progressive in one institution. It's bits and pieces just like its own collection, which has its strong and weak points. But what am I talking about, I worked in a one-room museum dedicated to Chinese American history, an one-artist gas station-turned-museum, and a five (six?) year old art museum that sent its head of education to a high security prison without any previous training in how to coordinate art programs at prisons. This is definitely a winding staircase up from what I have known, museum-wise.
South Michigan Ave looks like 5th or 6th ave, or whatever avenue Tiffany's is on, because all I kept thinking when I got off the bus was how much it looked like the opening sequence of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I am unfortunately not as elegant as Audrey Hepburn, stepping out of a cab with coffee in hand at 6am onto a deserted but proud street, but a little asian girl with a big camera jumping off a crowded bus and navigating through the crowds of other tourists, locals, and local crazies like the man who counts smiles.
Note to self: must find Japanese prints, as per Evan's recommendation
Anyway, after AIC, I took my hungry self to Cafecito (as per Dorian's request) and had an amazing pressed sandwich of chicken, caramelized onions, and guava BBQ sauce. After deciding against a batido (but I will return for one) I stopped by CVS to pick up the remainder of things I'm gonna eventually leave behind, had a CVS employee mock me for my height (but was most likely flirting), and then bus'd back home. Already I am aware that there is a lesbian couple living on the 31st floor of my building, as I bused into and out of the Loop area with 1/2 the couple. I sense Chicago may not be the big anonymous city it tries to imitate (ahemNYCahem).
Gonna rest for a bit and then walk over to get a burger for dinner and then Chinatown for boba. Gotta get cracking on my research and studying for tomorrow's first day of work!
Update:
Instead of going to get a $12 burger, I opted to stay in Chinatown and get a big ol' box of pad thai and a mango kiwi freeze with lychee jelly from Joy Yee Noodle Shop. The walk over to Chinatown was a little scary but I did it right before sunset and was able to find my way without too many turn arounds and second doubts haha.
Aah so nervous for tomorrow!
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