a robin’s view of CBOT

"a robin's view of CBOT"

“a robin’s view of CBOT”

This piece was auctioned late November 2014. Notice that the six clouds represent the original trading pits. The yellow Arcturus in the sky was a symbol used in the 1933 “A Century of Progress” Chicago World’s Fair. The two towers outside the building are actually on the inside of the building when you exit on Jackson Boulevard. The staircase railing was also brought outside of the building. Look closely and you will see tiny hand stitching of the building’s name. The building is appliquéd on the flag of Chicago.

Street Level by Joy by Robin

Part of street level by Joy by Robin

Part of street level by Joy by Robin


The street level is 2.5″ x 6″ … there are 18 pieced pieces of fabric within that area!
Street Level with Entrance by Joy by Robin

Street Level with Entrance by Joy by Robin

Columns in Process by Joy by Robin

Columns from inside the building

Columns from inside the building by Joy by Robin

 

Columns in process by Joy by Robin

Columns in process by Joy by Robin

 

Columns Completed

Columns Completed

Columns without the distinguishing “shell” on the top. These are pieced. The shells will be “needle turned” in order to create curves. These represent the columns on each side of the doorway when exiting the CBOT to Jackson Boulevard at LaSalle Street. Once the shells were attached the columns were placed on the background.  Notice the colors of the inspiration quilt shown on the right.  My drawing is on the left.

Background is assembled!

My Interpretation of the Board of Trade with Chicago flag assembled for the background by Joy by Robin

My Interpretation of the Board of Trade with Chicago flag assembled for the background by Joy by Robin


The representation of the Chicago flag is the background for the quilt. The level of detail needs to exist for my quilt because Mr. Rowley was a draftsman and the detail in his quilt is accurate to the layout of the fairgrounds. My inspiration quilt for the Quilt Alliance “Inspired By” contest is Richard Henry Rowley’s “Bird’s Eye View of the Chicago World’s Fair 1933 from Waldvogel Archival Collection. The documentation is available at http://www.quiltindex.org and the contest information is at http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org

For those who know the flag … there will be a red star to represent the 1933 Exposition/World’s Fair.

Chicago Board of Trade à la moi

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“Inspired By,” is the theme for the Quilt Alliance annual contest. My inspiration is a quilt from the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, A Century of Progress. The quilt was said to have been made by one, but when purchased by Merikay Waldvogel, a note said that the son, Richard Henry Rowley was the actual quilt maker! Sears Roebuck held the largest quilt contest with some winning quilts shown at the fair. Check the information at www.quiltindex.org and be inspired.

The aerial view of the fairgrounds, the quilted waves of Lake Michigan, the fun colors of the time, Chicago … Mr. Rowley’s quilt inspired me to create my memory of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Trade which was built before the World’s Fair and down the street from the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower).

I remembered a field trip to the Board of Trade’s trading floor, eating lunches at the restaurant when I worked downtown, the exquisite features inside and outside of the building, and the magnificent view down LaSalle Street from the river toward the building.

My drawing includes features inside the building placed on the outside of the building to create movement, showing the deliberate design of the building, its location at the south end of LaSalle Street, the beautiful lines in the building are outside, and the inside of the Jackson Boulevard entrance sits on each side outside my rendition, modern representation of a great Chicago landmark!

Background for “Inspired By”

Background of "Inspired By" Quilt Alliance quilt

Background of “Inspired By” Quilt Alliance quilt

The background is the flag of Chicago. There will be one red star to represent the Century of Progress 1933 Chicago World’s Fair!