Standing Guard by auntietk
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Description
One of the lions outside the Art Institute of Chicago.
One night I was talking to a friend and said, "Marilyn and I are going to Chicago."
"When are you going?" he asked.
"I don't know yet," I replied, "I've just now decided. I'll let you know once I've talked to Marilyn."
And so it began!
When Marilyn and I were making lists of things we wanted to do in Chicago, at the top of every list of mine was the Art Institute. We wanted to go on a boat tour, see the city from the top of the Sears Tower, check out Navy Pier, stroll through Millenium Park and see the Cloud Gate, go to Greek Town, and above all ... go to the art museum.
We actually got to exactly ONE of those activities! LOL! I got to see The Bean, as you already know.
By the time we got to the museum on Friday afternoon, it was just closing, so I took photos of the lions out in front.
The whole time we were in Chicago was spent with good friends, laughing and talking and kicking back. As it turned out, none of us could bring ourselves to stop walking around in the sunshine, yakking with each other, enjoying every second of the wonderful company. The insides of buildings were not high on our list that weekend.
So this is my one photo from my big trip to the Art Institute.
:D
Comments (41)
Faemike55
and a wonderful one at that! Beautiful shot of the lion
lyron
Great guardian and picture!!!
beachzz
When Tara brought that up the first time, this is what she said, "Marilyn, we're going to Chicago". I said, "Cool, when?". And it was that easy. Heck, I don't think I even remember seeing this lion--but it's a great shot. Maybe one day we'll see the inside, but if we don't it's because there are just too many good people around and too much great conversation to miss!!
Chipka
Oh, the North Lion...he's slightly different from the South Lion. I love both of them, but maybe it's because lions are so cool...and they're emblematic of Nemaea...and we all know the significance of Nemaea. Anyway, this is a brilliant shot and I love the tweaked color...almost selective coloring, but something else as well...muted and played with in spots, which brings out that copper-rust patina this gentleman possesses! This is great work, and yeah, I'm still remembering that weekend and all of the talking and the way everything just seemed to move in so organic a way. This brings all of it back, and I love that warm feeling with the lingering taste of pomegranate and walnut sauce!
KatesFriend
He looks like a mighty fellow. Ever on vigil, just like a cat. I'm just wondering if he is made of copper for what appears to be patina.
bmac62
Oh good you got one lion...and in a completely uncoordinated effort, I got the one on the other side:) You, my dear, got the better shot. Looks like you were very close. I had to settle for a drive-by shooting from my car. Great texture on this beast:)
bazza
Great shot of this handsome beast, well done!!
West_coaster07
Nice capture!!
blinkings
A beautiful regal old cat! It sounds like you had a good trip anyway.
wysiwig
Well its a very artfully done lion. The composition and POV are just superb. I really like the inclusion of the plant in the background.
Meisiekind
Oh what a beauty Tara - a real sentinel! It seems to me like you need to return to Chicago, but I'm afraid, with all our wonderful friends living there, you will end up doing exactly the same! ps - TY for this morning Dierbaar!
babuci
Well, certainly the ONE shot turned out great. Only 2 color rules this capture what makes it very interesting.
helanker
That is a beautiful Lion full of patina of the best :-) A wonderful shot, Tara. Well, you can go another time. :-)
anahata.c
The detail on the lion is wonderful (I think you gave him a bath!), and he shines here as I haven't seen him shine in a long time. Look, I really wanted to go to the Art Institute! I waited for weeks to go there with all of you, I was looking forward to seeing all those Monets and van Goghs and Picassos that the museum is famous for---with all of you---and to see Hopper's masterpiece you wanted to see, etc, and look all day & night. I was upset! (I could make a big deal about the fact that you all wanted to see the Bean more than van Gogh, but I'll let it go. You're photographers, the Bean is MUCH more friendly to lenses than van Gogh!) But this is a wonderful shot of the facade, and you have the lion's hind quarters lined up with one set of windows & its head with others; and the building is softer and makes a nice contrast. You probably don't know this, so here's a little human lore: While the AIC (art institute of chicago, in chicago-ese) is monumental on the outside, it has a huge collection of monument breaking works on the inside, paintings from the late 19th and early 20thC, which pretty much debunked this facade's 19th C grandiosity. (I mean they blew it out of the water, lol.) So for some of us, those lions were like friendly beasts who said, "we're really not big beasts: We just play some on television". These were objects of affection to many of us, and many a day you'd find students of the AIC school in their ragged clothing sprawled out on these lions & steps, with big sketchbooks and god knows what else; and sometimes they felt like the real owners of this place because they walked in the shoes of the artists represented inside, rather than in the shoes of the patrons who wanted "monumentality" on the outside. The place was built in the late 1800s---the time when museums were coming into their own in the world---and it's such a lovely facade, and it was so much fun to those of us for whom it was the "entrance". We felt welcomed by those lions who, we were sure, were laughing a bit when no one was looking...Just some lore for you, which I hope you find interesting...Lovely capture of those grand old beasts, Tara, and fine detail too...
Meglaurel
love the exchanges between you all. Tara; you take me to places that would not be able to get to without your "eye" while Mark fills in the "background"!
emmecielle
Excellent capture! :)
casmindo
Good friends and laughter made the whole trip and the lion was a bonus!
glix70
The lion, the oldest pagan dos after the sun, there are tousand of places where there is the lion that protect, in Italy so much!!! Excellent capture, beautiful colors and light!!! WEll done!!! :)
debbielove
Ah! I know this beast! I have driven past it on the way to Seers Tower etc... A great shot! Rob
MrsRatbag
I guess you'll just have to go back, then! Great shot of this big guy!
bebert
supêrb lion, very nice photo
awjay
super shot
durleybeachbum
I should have to have tried to MAKE all of you go in!
cfulton
There must be thousands of these lions around the world! I like the colours, Clive
jocko500
wonderful shot . good pov
ShadowsNTime
What a terrific patina! When doing stained glass I used a chemical on the lead to get this very patina, speaks to antiquities. He is s fine looking fellow and you captured him beautifully. Next trip you will have to start at the institute, I can only imagine the shots you would get inside!Wonderful shot as always Tara!
danapommet
He has aged very well. Love the patina and DOF. Dana
npauling
A lovely capture and you can always make another trip but it is harder to get friends together and have some fun. You still have lovely memories.
elfin14doaks
Really cool shot. We have lions standing guard in front of our library. I believe they are from the same artist.
goodoleboy
Simba at the gate, forever on guard. Stellar POV and textures.