Photo of a painting I happened upon in the Bucktown area (above).
Chicago is present on the world stage. This city goes by many names, including: the Windy City, the Second City, and the City of Broad Shoulders. From the political circus surrounding 'Blago' to the recently inaugurated President Obama to the planning roots planted by Daniel Burnham, we are present in the eyes and minds of the world.
With President Obama now in Washington, we have new reasons to think about our place as a leader on the world stage. Chicago has a past filled with ambitious thinkers and planners. Cheif among these is Daniel H. Burnham, who was Director of Works for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and he (along with assistant Edward H. Bennett) created the 1909 Plan of Chicago.
I am not alone in seeing an arts renaissance in conjunction with Obama's rise. Here are some links: Artists for Obama, The Obama Art Report (a blog), and Art of Obama.
Capturing the essence of Burnham's visionary spirit is this quote: "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood." Capturing the strikingly similar essence of the hope for change which Obama embodies may be the slogan "Yes, we can!" (there is also a music video on YouTube, with celebrities galore, of course).
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