Wave Swinger In Motion – Chicago Waterfront Metal Print

Description

Wave Swinger In Motion – Chicago Waterfront Metal Print by Mark Tisdale.

This Chicago waterfront metal print from dusk at the amusement park on Chicago’s Navy Pier has always attracted a good deal of attention. In fact this was one of the first prints I sold in a small gallery show in Atlanta almost twenty years ago. At the time I was a hobbyist who loved art and photography but I had not really believed I could make a living outside of a cube in an office. That first sale was one special moments that ultimately propelled me forward on my career as an artist.

For a period of time, I had to commute to Chicago frequently for work. Although I rarely had time to really explore Chicago, there were a few rare moments when I had time to myself to explore more of that beautiful city. On the occasion pictured in this wave swinger print, I had just a little time to wander around the pier before night fell. When I saw the amusement park rides in motion, I knew I had to try to capture the magic of the dusk skies and the lights of the rdies.

This Chicago waterfront metal print has been described to me by some as classic Americana. It really has that epic feel of an American theme park as night falls. So much so that everyone who sees it thinks its a different park, i.e. the one they know best. I’m sure it’s because these amusement park rides seen in motion are so ubiquitous. Ferris wheels are, after all, the epitome of theme parks. And I’ve read that most of these swing rides, or Chair-O-Planes, are made by the same manufacturer. I guess that universal feel is something of a hallmark of Americana – a feeling that encompasses the American experience.

I know this Chicago waterfront metal print will long remains one of my favorites. Not simply because it was the beginning of my career as an artist but because I love the bright colors and the fluid motion. I love the feel I have when I look at it. No matter how many years pass, there’s a feeling that I’m there in the cool night air of Navy Pier in Chicago again. And, of course, I love the wide appeal of this print that everyone seems to think is from their favorite park.

Have you gazed up at the amusement park rides on Navy pier on a night in Chicago? Or does this Chicago print remind you of the classic American theme park experience? I hope you’ll share what makes this print special in your eyes!