Turning around to take the photo

Chicago Picasso, Chicago, public art, street art, rust, snow, snow melt, footprints, abstract, found art, expressionism, painting on metal, salt, rust painting, seasons, change, chicago loop, chicago downtown, chicago art, chicago public art, chicago street art, melting art, art revealed, art discovered, hdr, chicago hdr

Ever see something cool along your commute, but you don’t stop to take the photo? I bet it happens to thousands of people every day. It almost happened to me today.

Along my commute, I pass by the giant Picasso public sculpture in downtown Chicago.

Chicago Picasso
The Chicago Picasso
Chicago Picasso with snow behind it
Backside of Chicago Picasso sculpture.

This sculpture is such an icon in Chicago, I love being able to walk by it every day. Instead of walking BY it, I walk right up next to it. I step up on the two-foot-tall platform. People often walk around the platform that surrounds the sculpture. I like to get right up next to the sculpture, so I can run my hand along the angled base.

Chicago Picasso angled base
The angled base of the Chicago Picasso

Today was one of those days where I noticed something neat along my commute. The angled base of the sculpture was all rusted from the salt used on the snow. It looked pretty cool.

Chicago Picasso, Chicago, public art, street art, rust, snow, snow melt, footprints, abstract, found art, expressionism, painting on metal, salt, rust painting, seasons, change, chicago loop, chicago downtown, chicago art, chicago public art, chicago street art, melting art, art revealed, art discovered, hdr, chicago hdr
The Chicago Picasso after a snowmelt is like a new work of art.

At first, I walked by without taking a photo, because, “I gotta get to work!”

Once I walked by, I couldn’t get that cool texture out of my head, I turned around to take a few quick snapshots. Using the ProHDR app on my iPhone, I was pleased with how the contrast of the oranges and blues came out. 

The marks were also fascinating. Dancing footprints mixed in with swipes of the hand. It’s like a dance party on this work of art.

It’s almost always worth the time to take an extra minute to pause, and appreciate the aesthetics around you.

Postscript:
An online gallery inquired about this photo on Instagram, asking if I created this art.

1340briana: Did you create this art? Would you be interested in showing your art on our 1340art page? For more information. Check the link in our bio.
mattmaldre: @1340briana you could say it's a collaboration I did with Picasso and the City of Chicago.

Amusing. Makes me want to go back with my Nikon D610 and shoot some more of this—if the rust is still there.

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