Wednesday marks 10 years since Chicago’s Millennium Park opened to the public. Though it wouldn’t be completed for another two years, Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, better known as ‘The Bean,’ quickly became one of the most photographed icons in Chicago. Here’s what the Sun-Times reported at the time –
When the park opened in July, an enormous white tent around the 100-ton sculpture was removed, unveiling the unfinished, mirror-like legume. Designed to appear seamless, the Bean still shows welds from its 100 plates — lines which will eventually be polished out. Once the tent is erected in January, The Bean will be out of view until spring. Inside the tent — which will be heated for winter — a mechanical device operating on a track will finish the welding inside and out. Workers will then polish the ellipse to a flawless shine.
Here’s an inside look at the construction of The Bean.
The Bean is assembled in April 2004. | John H White/Sun-Times photo
Editorial: Why Millennium Park deserves a fifth star on the Chicago flag
The Bean is assembled under a large tent in April 2004. | John H White/Sun-Times photo
John H White/Sun-Times photo
John H White/Sun-Times photo
A local ironworker on the inside of The Bean in July 2004. | Richard Chapman/Sun-Times photo
Richard Chapman/Sun-Times photo
The Bean under a large tent in July 2004. | Richard Chapman/Sun-Times photo
A man touches The Bean’s unfinished seams in June 2005. | Tim Boyle/Getty Images
The Bean rests in its shelter in June 2005. | Tim Boyle/Getty Images
The Bean on the day of its official dedication ceremony, May 15, 2006. | Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo
