Wednesday 8 November 2017

More of Chicago, Art Institute, Frank Lloyd Wrights house and a quilt studio visit.

This morning the group walked through the park, had a photo stop at Cloud gate, hot chocolates and waited for the art gallery to open, We had a guided tour through the gallery and explanations were given by an expert art enthusiast.
I must say it was a great tour and to see originals of Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet, hanging on the gallery wall was exciting. Being also allowed to take photos and get up close to these masterpieces was awe inspiring.
This greeted us in the entry to the institute.
A great painting also at the entry.
This masterpiece was very large, but what was unique about this painting was all the small dots put together made a painting.
Van Gogh
Explanation of Van Gogh portrait.
Monet paintings
Monet Irises, 1914/17
We were privileged to be able to see some wonderful vintage and modern quilts on display at the art Institute.

I just 



Crazy quilt, great embroidery 
Flag quilt
Another version of a crazy quilt
Appliqué quilt, lovely work
Quilt depicting the Oregon Trail
Chris Jurd standing near the Garfield and Arthur quilt, explanation below, Chris made her version of this quilt in 2009.
I would like to add, Chris made this quilt in 2009 and I have owned it for a few years now, after purchasing it of Chris, about five years ago at the Springwood quilt show.

Friendship quilt.

There were many other quilts, and a delightful hour was spent drooling over them.
After our visit we had lunch, back to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we drove 1 hour out to a quilt shop, not much purchased at this shop, but there was a hobby lobby which most of us were happy to visit and some more money was spent to help the American economy.
The next day was an excursion out to Oakpark to visit Frank Lloyd Wright house, 
Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867, Wisconsin, he lived in Oakpark from 1889 until 1909. Wright created a wholly new form of American architecture known as the Prairie style, because it reflects the landscape of the mid western plains. The house was amazing with imaginative genius, he was forward thinking with his design.
Frank Lloyd Wrights home.
Beautiful Art Deco lead light.
This entry loggia columns are capped by plaster castings, the colour of bronze, incorporating the book of knowledge issues from the tree of life, an architectural scroll, the storks represent wisdom and fertility. The house was mainly made of American oak and had painted murals in many of the areas.
After the house tour we had lunch the visited the studio of Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, who showed us his modern quilts.
Bill Kerr house in Oakpark 
Bill Kerr showing us his quilts.
Weeks and Bill also have their own fabric range, which of course I had to purchase some.
This concludes our time in Chicago, tomorrow we are off to Houston for quilt festival.
Of course as with tradition DH had to have his steak, this time we dined at Ruby Rose steakhouse and the steak was 24ounces, enjoyed by himself.
More to follow with our Houston visit.
DH's steak for dinner.

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