My Bike Betty

Greetings fellow adventurers! Since 2014, Betty and I have been traveling the streets of Chicago discovering art and artistic expression along the way. Join in and post your experience here!
My Bike Betty
  • A Two for One and Some Down-time
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  • Tag: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

    • Shifting Gears Off the Beaten Path

      Posted at 5:49 pm by jan, on August 31, 2017

      Greetings All! Betty and I will be taking a break from blogging while I focus on a new project. However, the site will remain with hopes you may visit from time to time for ideas on where to explore.

      Until this next adventure is complete, and I return to you, keep discovering. Look for art and artistic expression everywhere and post your experience here!


       

      Posted in An Extension To All | 0 Comments | Tagged Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Well Played Sir Bowie

      Posted at 10:07 pm by jan, on January 19, 2016

      Remember this image from a past blog entry? It was taken from a Museum of Contemporary Art postcard advertising a David Bowie retrospective (2014). The show was absolutely incredible and I still talk about it today. Since his death, I’ve looked to my city to share in an on-going celebration of his music and art.

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      The Man Who Fell To Earth, 1976. Original stills taken by David James,

      First stop, The Empty Bottle with like minded friends for the Bowie Movie Brunch.

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      Jim Henson’s 1986 Labyrinth

      I’m always grateful for gatherings like these were communities gather to celebrate those who create art and essentially contribute to… -an affirmation of life-John Cage.

      Of course while I was there I couldn’t help notice artistic expression, EVERYWHERE! Like this display of past music events (sadly the artists weren’t noted)…IMG_5379

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      Come one come all!

      In closing, I’m not really sure if this entry is finished. I’m still on that Bowie path in and around our Chicago neighborhoods. Still, and as always, Betty and I want to encourage you to get out there, look for art and artistic expression EVERYWHERE and please, SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!! (even when it’s really cold!)

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      Betty’s response: Hell yeah!

       

       

      Posted in An Extension To All, Theaters, Festivals, Music, Parades | 0 Comments | Tagged Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Empty Bottle Chicago
    • Talk about Pop …ART! Shoobie doobie doo wop…bop bop doo wop (part I)

      Posted at 7:21 pm by jan, on December 27, 2015

      From our two major contemporary art exhibitors, PART 1:

      The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presents, THE STREET, THE STORE, AND THE SILVER SCREEN: POP ART FROM THE MCA COLLECTION
      Dec 19, 2015–Mar 27, 2016

      MCA, 220 East Chicago Ave

      MCA, 220 East Chicago Ave

      Box: Man in a Bar, 1969

      George Segal, Box: Man in a Bar, 1969, tempera on metal, wood, and cloth

      Christo, Museum of Contemporary Art Packed (Chicago)-Project for January-March 1969

      Christo, Museum of Contemporary Art Packed (Chicago)-Project for January-March 1969, graphite, fabric, oil, plastic, staples, and string on mat board

      Christo, Orange Store Front, 1964-65

      Christo, Orange Store Front, 1964-65, Masonite, plexiglas, galvanized metal, pegboard, fabric, and electric lights

      Ed Paschke, Heavy Shoes, 1970

      Ed Paschke, Heavy Shoes, 1970, oil on canvas

      Ed Paschke, Elcina, 1973

      Ed Paschke, Elcina, 1973, oil on canvas

      Wallace Berman, Untitled, 1968

      Wallace Berman, Untitled, 1968, verifax collage

      Claes Oldenburg, Candy Counter with Candy, 1961, plaster painted with enamel in a painted steel and wood case

      Claes Oldenburg, Candy Counter with Candy, 1961, plaster painted with enamel in a painted steel and wood case

      Jim Dine, The Tomato, 1973, lithograph and etching on paper

      Jim Dine, The Tomato, 1973, lithograph and etching on paper

      Marcel Broodthaers, Tour Marilyn, 1965, glass, wood, and photographs

      Marcel Broodthaers, Tour Marilyn, 1965, glass, wood, and photographs

      Andy Warhol, Troy Diptych, 1962, silk-screen ink on synthetic polymer, paint and graphite on linen

      Andy Warhol, Troy Diptych, 1962, silk-screen ink on synthetic polymer, paint and graphite on linen

      Andy Warhol, Campbell's Soup Cans II, 1969, screen prints on paper

      Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup Cans II, 1969, screen prints on paper

      Andy Warhol, Souper Dress, 1966-67, silk-screen ink on paper

      Andy Warhol, Souper Dress, 1966-67, silk-screen ink on paper

      Andy Warhol, Jackie Frieze, 1964, silk-screen on linen

      Andy Warhol, Jackie Frieze, 1964, silk-screen on linen

      Arman, alarm Clocks, 1960, alarm clocks in painted wood box

      Arman, Alarm Clocks, 1960, alarm clocks in painted wood box

      Alex Hay, Light Bulb, 1964, spray acrylic and stencil on linen, in eight parts linked by two painted linen bands

      And last favorite, Alex Hay, Light Bulb, 1964, spray acrylic and stencil on linen, in eight parts linked by two painted linen bands

      Betty’s Response: And how old are you?

      Next! PART 2…

      Alright all, we’re off on our next adventure but first extending to all to get out there, look for art and artistic expression EVERYWHERE, and last SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

      Also a big thanks for the modified titled of the blog inspired by M’s song, Talk About Pop Musik 1979

       

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • On the Heels

      Posted at 3:26 pm by jan, on October 5, 2015

      …of yesterday’s entry, I wanted to say, way to go MCA Prime Time! One of three events a year, Titled Vibes transformed the museum into a melting pot of performance, live music, art & design, dance, and super delicious food and drinks. Best yet, my number one friend accompanied me for a superior good time!

      Wild Belle plays tunes inside the plaza's temporary sculpture, The Figurehead by sculptor Alexandre da Cunha.

      Wild Belle plays tunes inside the plaza’s temporary sculpture, The Figurehead by artist Alexandre da Cunha.

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      Chicago based artist Josue Pellot’S installation on the 1st floor lobby.

      The Impala Sound Champions projecting serious electronic tunes!

      The Impala Sound Champions projecting serious electronic tunes!

      And last, a collection I found in the MCA shop that I felt was an invitation to all…to explore new places and ideas and then of course, SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW!!!

      And last, a collection I found in the MCA shop that I felt was an invitation to all…to explore new places and ideas and then of course, SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged MCA Prime Time, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Currents of Motion

      Posted at 5:30 pm by jan, on March 31, 2015

      Greetings All! First thing first, Betty had some work done and I was solo on this week’s adventure. However, a great big thanks to Logan at Let’s Roast Cycles for his superior work and most gracious personality. Of all the ga-zillion bike shops in Chicago this one stands out for customer service and hospitality.  As for Betty, she now rides like the Chicago winds blow!

      Betty’s Response: Don’t look at me.

      Let's Roast Cycles, 1116 N Milwaukee, 773-278-7820 Monday-Friday: 8AM–8PM Saturday: 10AM–8PM Sunday: 10AM–5PM

      Let’s Roast Cycles, 1116 N Milwaukee, 773-278-7820
      Monday-Friday: 8AM–8PM
      Saturday: 10AM–8PM
      Sunday: 10AM–5PM

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Inspired by energy in motion I headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Through May 10, and part of the MCA’s permanent collection, Alexander Calder’s kinetic mobiles can be enjoyed along with his stabiles and works on paper.

      Snowflakes and Red Stop, 1964

      Snowflakes and Red Stop, 1964

      Blue Among Yellow and Red, 1963

      Blue Among Yellow and Red, 1963

      The Ghost, 1964

      The Ghost, 1964

      Chat-Mobile (Cat Mobile), 1966

      Chat-Mobile (Cat Mobile), 1966

      Four Boomerangs, 1949

      Four Boomerangs, 1949

      A Detached Person, 1944/1968

      A Detached Person, 1944/1968

      Untitled, 1944

      Untitled, 1944 (background work Cascade, 1963)

      Little Face, 1943

      Little Face, 1943

      And perhaps my favorite is Les Mouettes (The Seagulls), 1965, beautifully installed on the bottom floor, theater entrance.

      And perhaps my favorite is Les Mouettes (The Seagulls), 1965, beautifully installed on the bottom floor, theater entrance.

      LOVE THE MCA! Alright explorers, as we say goodbye to march…

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      and hello to spring…

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      be acutely aware of transformation and glorious, glorious ART EVERYWHERE! Betty and I are out but first extending to you the invitation to GET OUT THERE and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

      –The residual purpose of art is purposeless play. This play however, is an affirmation of life–Not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a way of waking up to the very life we’re living, which is so excellent once one gets one’s mind and one’s desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord. -John Cage

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Let's Roast Cycles, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Button This!

      Posted at 7:56 pm by jan, on January 28, 2015

      Thanks to an article in the Chicago Reader, Betty and I headed over to the Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum.

      Betty’s Response: HELLO “mybikebetty.com” button! Woo!

      The Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum, 3279 W. Armitage Ave.

      The Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum, 3279 W. Armitage Ave.

       

      Buttons!!

      BUTTONS, BUTTONS, AND MORE BUTTONS!!

      Touring the buttons you immediately begin to reference ones with personal ties and memories.

      Touring the buttons you immediately begin to reference the ones with personal ties, memories, and history.

       

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      Smileys!!!

      Smileys!!!

       

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      I really do…

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      yep…

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      Without a doubt!

       

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      The M A N!

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      Buttons with functions like a hidden tape measurer. 

       

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      Cheese is my favorite!

      Cheese is my favorite!

       

       

       

       

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      Remember  Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective at the Chicago Art Institute?! Well these guys did this button too! Woo!

      Remember the Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective at the Chicago Art Institute?! Well these guys did this button too! Woo!

      AND from my personal collection these doozies from left to right…

      AND from my personal collection these doozies… from left to right, Le Genie De La Bastille (a group of artist I exhibited with in Paris), an Eiffel Tower button (to prove I was there), Edvard Munch Scream button from the 2011 retrospective @ Centre Pompidou, Paris Catacombs button (creepy and awesome!), and last my David lightening bolt button from the recent David Bowie Is exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

       

      A big thanks to Joel Carter, Director of Operations at the Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum, for the welcome, information, and tour of the museum. Also be sure and check out the incredible button collection at buttonmuseum.org.

      Finally Betty and I are off but before we go here’s an invite to all to get out there and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!

      –The residual purpose of art is purposeless play. This play however, is an affirmation of life–Not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a way of waking up to the very life we’re living, which is so excellent once one gets one’s mind and one’s desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord. -John Cage 

      Take note of

      Take note of these affirmations, at any given moment, all around you.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Giving Thanks for David Bowie

      Posted at 7:37 pm by jan, on December 3, 2014

      Inhibition: Sharing an experience with family and considering, what exactly is art?

      Betty’s response: The work of David Bowie!

      Experience: During this Thanksgiving week I set out with visiting family to Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art to explore the David Bowie retrospective.

      Image taken from an MCA postcard from, "The Man Who Fell to Earth," by David Bowie 1976. Original stills taken by David James.

      Image taken from an MCA postcard from, “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” by David Bowie 1976. Original stills taken by David James.

      A fragment of the image taken above as you enter the installation.

      A fragment of the image taken above as you enter the installation.

      What I didn’t know: David Bowie mimed? He’s a painter? And whoever heard of the “verb-a-rator?” So this is my second time to see the Bowie exhibit however, when taking my family I was super nervous they wouldn’t be into it. Well they were! So much so that we explored the entire show for over three hours (MCA estimates visitors will take ninety minutes). Taken from the David Bowie archives, approximately seven rooms exhibit over forty years of his career and feature artist’s work he collaborated with like costume designers Alexander McQueen and Kansai Yamamoto, photographers Helmut Newton, Brian Duffy and John Rowlands, album artists Guy Peellaert and Edward Bell. Not only is the show visually spectacular, with images, hand written notes and lyrics, posters and paintings, mannequins dressed in his incredible costumes, film, video, and television excerpts but it is also incredibly immersive due to head sets you wear that automatically cue to play comments, interviews, and songs as you explore each room. WOO and WHEW! This exhibit continues through January 4…

      SOOOOOO!!! GET OVER THERE AND SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW! And while you’re at it, take along a friend or loved one and show them too!

      ps. As of late, and in particular, I am thinking about the question…what is art?

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged David Bowie, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Fuel for the Fire

      Posted at 5:34 pm by jan, on May 26, 2014
      Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

      Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Ave., Community Free Day Tuesdays 10-8

       

      Inhibition: This week’s challenge stems from being super tired (and little bummed out) so I decided to head over to the MCA and stoke my fire.

      Betty’s Response: Good idea.

      Experience: Free day at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago! Currently exhibitions are…

       

      Unbound: Contemporary Art After Frida Kahlo  (until Oct 5, 2014)

      Unbound: Contemporary Art After Frida Kahlo
      (until Oct 5, 2014)

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      Frida Kahlo, Arbol de la Esperanza (Tree of Hope), 1946

      Doris Salcedo, Untitled, 1958

      Doris Salcedo, Untitled, 1958

      Louise Bourgeois, The She-Fox, 1985

      Louise Bourgeois, The She-Fox, 1985

       

       

       

       

      MCA DNA: Warhol and Marisol (until Jun 15, 2014)

      MCA DNA: Warhol and Marisol (until Jun 15, 2014)

      Isa Genzken: Retrospective (until Aug 3, 2014)

      Isa Genzken: Retrospective (until Aug 3, 2014)

       

       

      Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (the End), 1990

      Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (the End), 1990

       

       

       

       

      What I Sometimes forget: Even though your exhausted, you must feed your soul with creativity!

      Sooooo let’s all get out there and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!!

      Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    • Recent Posts

      • Shifting Gears Off the Beaten Path
      • Pilsen Bound
      • A Few of My Favorite Things
      • In My Own Backyard (part II)
      • In My Own Back Yard (part 1)
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