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Introducing Cloud Gate, 's iconic public art pie... http://gi296.about.com/od/attractionsandlandmarks/a/Anish-Kapoors-Cl...

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Cloud Gate Captures Chicago Like No Other Apply now to guide this site "The Bean" at AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park

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British sculptor 's Cloud Gate -- located within Millennium Park's AT&T Plaza -- creates yet another formidable, if not mind-bending, Chicago landmark. Allegedly inspired by a drop of mercury, Kapoor's mirrored, seamless sculpture was selected by Millennium Park officials after they hosted a 1999 competition between 30 artists vying to create a new piece of public art for the City of Chicago. Millennium Park's dizzying Nicknamed "The Bean" due to its legume-like shape, this stunning images below Cloud Gate. sculpture made a cosmetic debut in 2004, to coincide with the Grand © Tom Wagner Opening of Millennium Park, but was officially unveiled in 2006. Since then, "The Bean" quickly emerged as Chicago's second most popular tourist destination along , second only to the city's famed .

Cloud Gate initially evokes a visceral response from most visitors, as it triggers an instinctive reaction while the mind races to catch up, forming cognitive connections with each changing observation angle. Viewers are captivated by the gleaming silver surface that warps Chicago's iconic city skyline, especially when walking through "The Bean's" 12-foot (3.7 meter) arch, which distorts and multiplies reflections, much like a house of carnival mirrors.

Cloud Gate's dimensions are 33' x 66' x 42' (10 x 20 x 13 meters), comprised of 168 polished stainless steel plates, and it weighs just over 110 tons. Due to "The Bean's" massive weight, which rests atop the restaurant, structural engineers needed to address the surrounding support structures. After generating their calculations, a retaining wall that separates the city train tracks from the North garage -- which supports the majority of the sculpture's weight -- required substantial reinforcement, along with the overall structure of the garage, restaurant walls and supporting roof.

Originally budgeted to cost $6 million, the final price tag for "The Bean" skyrocketed to $23 million by 2006. However, no public funds went to create and install Cloud Gate; the project was entirely funded by private donations. Therefore, in addition to the captivation, delight and intellectual stimulation generated by "The Bean", this entirely free experience is a gift of love to The Windy City, its citizens and the countless visitors who marvel at this prominent piece of public art each year.

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