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Socrates Sculpture Park Queens, New York


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Millennium Park Chicago, Illinois


Once a grimy railyard on the Lake Michigan shorefront, Millennium Park has transformed an eyesore of a site into a celebration of urban renewal—and pub- lic art has played a huge part in the reinvention. Pieces like Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain represent the new face of the city quite literally: the 50-foot glass towers glow with video of Chicago residents pursing their lips and, like modern gargoyles, spouting plumes of water into a black granite pool below. British artist Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, a 110-ton, bean-shaped sculp- ture beloved by art critics and tourists alike, entertains with its funhouse reflec- tions of passersby shimmering against the city skyline. Crowds pack the Frank Gehry–designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion for symphonies, festivals, and movie nights—and if visitors need to stretch their legs, they can always try free tai chi on the Great Lawn or a guided plant walk in the Lurie Garden.


34 · LAND&PEOPLE · FALL/WINTER 2014


In 1986, sculptor and Queens local Mark di Suvero spearheaded the con- version of an abandoned East River landfill into an outdoor art experi- ment. In a nod to the surrounding Greek community, di Suvero named the spot after Socrates, the classical philosopher. Today the park serves as a public square where cutting-edge art coexists with farmers’ markets, film nights, and cooking classes. Exhibits change frequently. One season, a giant inflatable Buddha bobbed serenely on the park’s shoreline; the next, three giant industrial cherry-picker machines loomed on the grass, their buckets full of tropical bamboo and palm plants. Look for provocative pieces, too—these artists don’t shy away from social commentary. After the park flooded during Superstorm Sandy, climate change became the topic du jour. Here, though, the sweep- ing vistas and open skies encourage a contemplative view of even the most contentious issues.


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