Cloud Gate in Chicago (above left) is a fascinating sculpture, employing multiple unusual design choices. First, the form. In the shape of a kidney bean (Cloud Gate is even called "The Bean" by locals), it is what Mary Stewart describes in Launching the Imagination as an organic form--one that suggests nature or natural forces (181). Second, it has an unusual texture. It is a three-dimensional, curved form whose exterior is entirely composed of a seamless mirror. Mirrors are not typically used in this way, and as Stewart describes, because the material is used in an unexpected way, we reconsider the form and the material (205). Finally, the use of activated space. As Stewart notes, the upper half reflects the city around it, while the lower half pulls viewers into a reflective interior space (201). I've been to Cloud Gate before, and hadn't considered this division in the space. The interior, however, is a fascinating sight. The above right photo is an example of what the viewer may see if they stand inside the interior space and look up. When I took such a picture (not the one above) I found myself reflected in the mirror 4 or 5 times.
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