I would never miss an opportunity to visit Chicago. There is always something to do and see in this city. In winter, you can go ice skating in Mega Park or admire the Christmas decorations on Michigan Avenue. In summer, you can take a stroll along the Riverwalk, eat pizza in Lincoln Park, watch fireworks on Navy Pier, or go to the zoo. At any time of the year, you can visit the theaters, museums, or exhibitions in Chicago that will surprise even the most sophisticated viewer.
Of course, when my friends from the Photography Program invited me to go to Chicago for a day, I agreed. We planned to visit Columbia College and the exhibition of world-famous photographer Steve McCurry. The third point on our plan was the Art Institute of Chicago. A train ride has been added to my personal list of attractions: I have never traveled on trains in America.
After one hour and forty five minutes on a train, we found ourselves in the very center of Chicago at the Union Station, which is not inferior in architecture and beauty to the interior of the Union Station in New York.
Our first stop was the Steve McCurry’s exhibition at Loyola University. His photograph of Arabian girl Sharbat Gula is known all over the world. When I saw this image for the first time, on the cover of National Geographic, I had never thought that I would end up at his exhibition. It surprised me and other students with the number of works, some were familiar and some were new to us.
The second stop our group had was Columbia College Chicago. The college greeted us with an exhibition of Shea Coulee’s stage costumes. Colors, quality of fabrics, and styles fully corresponded to the character of the singer and his outrageousness. Columbia College is a heaven for creative people; graphic designers and fashion designers, photographers, musicians, dancers, and managers of the art world are all studying there. Columbia occupies 15 academic, administrative, and residence life buildings in the South Loop neighborhood, which is part of the city’s downtown area and central business district.
Our group wanted to observe the photography program’s rooms and ended up in the dark room where “a film is a king.” The dark room was the king among the dark rooms; it was the most impressive I have ever seen. Not only with its size and equipment, but also with a beautiful view of the Chicago Marina. We also looked at the maker’s place where you can find all kinds of industrial machines for working with wood, metal, sanding machines and sewing machines. We also went to the library, where you can borrow not only books, but also clothing patterns, photo cameras, and lenses.
Our last stop was supposed to be the Chicago Art Institute, but it was closed; it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To be honest, it didn’t upset us very much. We were tired, and there was less than an hour left before the train ride home…Chicago, see you next time.
