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Interesting way to view art

We have viewed this twice; once during a cold March evening, and recently on a warm September... read more

Reviewed 10 September 2019
Robert S
,
Hyde Park, Vermont
Visually Apealing

We stopped by after dinner to watch the show. We were watching from Wacker at Wells. The show was... read more

Reviewed 28 May 2019
ECJoe
,
Buffalo, Minnesota
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4 - 9 of 13 reviews
Reviewed 15 November 2021

I was in Chicago for a week in early November my son lives there, he told me to go see Art on the Mart because if it was a nice evening we could walk the river walk all the way down there which is all lit up to walk down to the Merch Mart. It is a huge building on one side of the river which they project the art onto when it becomes dark outside.

During November 2021 they are featuring artist named Barbara Kruger and this display was HORRIBLE I was hoping to see a show like my son has seen many times before and he said the shows are always great very colorful and always different art and artists it switches about once a month. However this art piece was called Untitled Questions which was just two words about 7 different questions and this ran over and over and over for 30 minutes how boring, we stayed about 10 minutes and were disappointed to say the least.
It kept repeating
WHOSE HOPES ?
WHOSE FEARS?
WHOSE LAUGHTER ?
WHOSE TEARS ?

and a couple other sayings it was blue lettering on a red background and in between the words changing the background was green, totally boring and not what I expected and we walked over 35 minutes to see it, Good thing it was a gorgeous night to walk by the water in November we lucked out but so not worth our time. I get the meaning behind the concept but not continuous for 30 straight minutes !!!

My son said the Christmas show is amazing and a must see, this one was a total dud so wait till it changes artists again which is supposed to be on November 26th before you go see it don't waste your time for this one.

Date of experience: November 2021
Thank 518lauriek
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 23 August 2021 via mobile

Maybe just our bad luck. It was a beautiful night. We waited. But tonight’s show, while it had the potential to be visually stunning, was HORRIBLE. The music was some kind of screechy discordant cacophony and the graphics like a bad LSD trip. Of course it free and we could have run away at any time and should have.

Date of experience: August 2021
1  Thank njsnarky
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 October 2019

This needs more publicity!! We stumbled across it on a drizzly Chicago evening and were enthralled enough to stand in the rain and watch the art materialize. The colors are great and the sync to the music is awesome. Definitely will seek it out on our next trip to Chicago for a longer show. Oh...and its free!!

Date of experience: September 2019
1  Thank Susan F
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 23 September 2019

A very interesting concept in showcasing artists conceptual art for the public. Short displays of 'stories' are run on the façade of the Merchandise Mart. Best views are right across the river on the Riverwalk, between Wells and Orleans Streets, where you can sit for the 45 minute or so presentation. Projections begin approximately 30 minutes after sunset, and run every day through September and then will go to 5 nights a week till November or December. It is a lovely way to wind up your day. Accompanying music and narration is streamed, which is clearly indicated on a banner on the Mart. My only wish is that rather than streaming, the music and narration was broadcast audibly.

Date of experience: September 2019
3  Thank Susan P
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 10 September 2019

We have viewed this twice; once during a cold March evening, and recently on a warm September evening. It is really interesting, and I did read a little about how it is done. Very impressive use of a building; and a very accessible way to view art. The show and the artists change from time to time. This particular show included several well know pieces from the Art Institute that were highly recognizable. I highly recommend this experience.

Date of experience: September 2019
1  Thank Robert S
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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