United colors of Autumn

nobody@flickr.com (Bert Kaufmann) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:20:01 -0700

Vlodrop Station - Limburg - the Netherlands

Cloud Gate Chicago (Explore)

nobody@flickr.com (Bert Kaufmann) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:30:26 -0700

Highest position on Explore: #134 on Saturday, August 7, 2010

Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park within the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its bean-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It is 33 feet by 66 feet by 42 feet (10 m × 20 m × 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons (100 t; 98 long tons).

Kapoor's design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline. Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot (3.7 m) high arch. On the underside is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections. The sculpture builds upon many of Kapoor's artistic themes, and is popular with tourists as a photo-taking opportunity for its unique reflective properties.

The sculpture was selected during a design competition. After Kapoor's design was chosen, numerous technological concerns regarding the design's construction and assembly arose, in addition to concerns regarding the sculpture's upkeep and maintenance. Various experts were consulted, some of whom believed the design could not be implemented. Eventually, a feasible method was found, but the sculpture's construction fell behind schedule. It was unveiled in an incomplete form during the Millennium Park grand opening celebration in 2004, before being concealed again while it was completed. Cloud Gate was formally dedicated on May 15, 2006, and has since gained considerable popularity, both domestically and internationally.

Haus am See / The Lake House (Explore)

nobody@flickr.com (Bert Kaufmann) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:02:21 -0700

Bert Kaufmann posted a photo:

Autumn in Dalheim-Rödgen - Germany

Highest position Explore: #72 on Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Uploads from Bert Kaufmann, tagged clear, with geodata

United colors of Autumn

Cloud Gate Chicago (Explore)

Haus am See / The Lake House (Explore)