CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[sentinel]

I just want to take a step back and say how nice it is to see such a civil and thoughtful debate about the design of this structure, which, no matter one's thoughts on the design form, essentially everyone agrees that it's a great new facility that Chicago is fortunate to have in the first place.

[vexxed82]

Little sneaky peek from a preview today...

Wish I had the energy to say more, but it was a loooong day. Took way too many photos, video clips, and am generally exhausted.

[lakeshoredrive]

Opening ceremony today was really good!

[Halsted & Villagio]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

Opening ceremony today was really good!

Agreed. In my humble opinion — they nailed it! It was far better than I expected. Hit all the marks and more… even the weather cooperated/no small feat lately.

[vexxed82]

Now that the OPC is officially opened, I imagine this thread will be locked soon. So here's a trove of images from my preview a couple weeks ago:

Looking down into the Our Story atrium from an upper-level walkway connecting spaces within the museum building.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Amy stands near the corner of the Nelson Mandela Sky Room. Here, viewers can look out on the the city's south and west sides though the massive concrete letters that surround the upper corner of the tower
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A corner of the new Chicago Public Library
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A wide-angle view of the Nelson Mandela Sky Room on the 8th floor. The ceiling features a piece entiteld "Sky of Hope." Aritst Idris Kahn, painstakingly stamped 1000's of words from a speech President Obama gave honoring Civil Rights leaders.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr


A full-time gardener from the Chicago Botanic Garden tends to the plants in the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A mother and daughter walk up the Grand Stair towards the museum entrance, approaching Nick Cave and Marie Watt's piece, 'The Land and Shared Sky,' which uses beaded nets and sculptural jingle elements.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A close-up of Nick Cave and Marie Watt's piece, 'The Land and Shared Sky,'
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Escalators transport museum-goers between exhibit floors where they pass the 83-foot stained glass installation by Julie Mehretu
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A statue of Barack and Michelle Obama near the base of the Museum tower.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr


A selection of Michelle Obama's dresses are on display on the Level 4 exhibit gallery.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A wide-angle view of the Elie Wiesel Auditorium. That's Billie Tsien and Tod Williams
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Detail of the Elie Wiesel Auditorium acoustic paneling
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Two young boys peer out onto the South Side of Chicago through the concrete letters from Barack Obama's "We Are America" speech.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr


Looking down the open corner in which massive graphics and art are projected onto two walls that span the full height of the musuem's interior.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A wide-angle look at the concrete letter wrapping around the upper corner of the tower from the Sky Room.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Mark Bradford’s 'City of the Big Shoulders' is a massive, mixed-media painting enveloping the 3-story west wall of the Our Story Atrium in the Museum. This lower level is public.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



Close up detail of signage cladding texture showing subtle warm tones of rock twisted into the granite
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



The museum tower seen form the walkable roof atop the Chicago Public Library
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A view of the SW corner of the tower from just one point along the 3.5 miles of walking paths spread across the 19 acre site.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A straight-up, black and white photo of Idris Kahn's artwork, Sky of Hope. The piece features 1000's of words stamped onto the ceiling from a speech President Obama gave honoring Civil Rights leaders
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr



A detailed look at the concrete letters terminating near the granite cladding.
Obama Presidential Center preview by Nick Ulivieri, on Flickr

[Halsted & Villagio]

Breathtaking pics Nick. You captured the heart, soul and spirit of the place like no other. Amazing work!

[Busy Bee]

Superb

[OhioGuy]

Great photos! I’ll be visiting the center in August. I’m looking forward to it!

[SamInTheLoop]

Spectacular. Thanks for posting these Nick.

[woodrow]

WOW! Great pictures Nick. The detailing on this building looks insane.

[wrab]

Nick, really splendid pics!

[sentinel]

Nick, those photos made me cry happy tears. Thank you for sharing your mastery with us and the world.

[Jibba]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

Does man love Art? Man visits Art, but squirms.
Art hurts. Art urges voyages--
and it is easier to stay at home,
the nice beer ready.
In commonrooms
we belch, or sniff, or scratch.
Are raw.

But we must cook ourselves and style ourselves for Art, who
is a requiring courtesan.
We squirm.
We do not hug the Mona Lisa.

We may touch or tolerate
an astounding fountain, or a horse-and-rider.
At most, another Lion.

Observe the tall cold of a Flower
which is as innocent and as guilty,
as meaningful and as meaningless as any
other flower in the western field

Had heretofore never come across this wonderful poem. A new fav. Thanks for posting.