Louis Vuitton for the Evening

Walking distance from where we where staying for the weekend, a new art museum and cultural center had just opened days before. The Louis Vuitton Foundation was designed by Frank Gehry, the same man who designed the snake bridge and outdoor amphitheater in Millennium Park back in Chicago. Loving Chicago as I do, and working across from Millennium Park for the last two years, I was very familiar with his work and knew to expect something futuristic and, to be honest, rather out there in terms of style and structure. 

The iconic LV monogram on the exterior

The lobby housed an information desk and gift shop as well as a restaurant. A number of art galleries, all from works of various artists, were spread throughout the building. Each gallery included a brief biography of the artist and their prominent works. The likes of Sarah Morris and Taryn Smith were included. Some areas were film, many were paintings, and one was even an auditory form of art where one individual at a time was allowed in a contained room to take in the full experience.

Tom studying up on his art. Spoiler alert: they were all lovely blank white squares.

The most intricate of the galleries featured video, scaled structures, and meticulous designs of the building itself. A large screen on the wall projected the exterior progress and construction work through all seasons and temperatures. This provided for an amazing appreciation of the difficulty to create such a building with unique support systems all along the outer concrete walls. 

A suspended design of the Louis Vuitton Foundation

While the structure itself was intended to be the main focal point upon approaching, the lighted water feature was brilliantly lit up against the dark of night.

We ended our evening with a walk through the park to a local Italian restaurant. Copious amounts of wine and pasta allowed us to refuel after our art filled evening. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to not only see a site I never would have known of, but to be able to do so that soon after its initial opening.