A "Shining" Icon of Chicago

If you live in Chicago, you know The Bean. For those not familiar with the Windy City, let me explain why one of the most popular Chicago landmarks is named after a legume.

The Bean, officially named Cloud Gate, is a 110 ton sculpture made of 168 stainless steel plates welded together and polished to an almost mirror-like finish. Designed by British artist Anish Kapoor, it reflects the skyline 360 degrees around it to create a beautiful icon of the city at the entrance to Millennium Park. The $23 million structure is shaped like - you guessed it - a bean, and was funded entirely through private donations. The original plan was to build it overseas and ship it to Chicago via the Panama Canal. In a likely smart decision, it eventually was decided to build the sculpture on-site in a tent-like enclosure. In a process which took 3 years, you can imagine the suspense the public felt at what was going on underneath that tent. There were several occasions where the tent was lifted to give the public a glimpse of what was going on underneath, but most of the construction was done out view of the public. In the picture to the right you see the structure beneath The Bean's shiny surface.

Standing underneath the concave center section of the bean can be likened to standing in the mirror section of a funhouse. I've tried many times to count the number of reflections of myself from The Bean's uniquely constructed "inside", but usually become frustrated around 30. On any given day, you'll find hundreds of locals and tourists posing, photographing, and praising the work of art.