A child sits at the helm of a CTA bus, furiously spinning the steering wheel, following his own inclinations. Public transportation is unreliable anyway; you may decide to foot it. Turn left and find all of Chicago spread out before you — in a cramped basement.
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The exhibit is largely the brainchild of noted architect Stanley Tigerman, who designed it pro bono. “What can I say? I like kids. Kids like what I do. My biggest constituency has always been the prepubescent crowd.”
The building replicas themselves have intricate trompe l’oeil facades with meticulously detailed curlicues and columns. Made of wood, each building stands about six feet tall, with steps leading into carpeted enclosures, where disarming tableaux beckon. Inside Cook County Hospital, teddy bears lie prostrate on an inclined bed. Underneath are three drawers, clearly marked “Bones”; X rays, doctors’ masks, and a life-size skeleton complete the medical ensemble.
Tigerman insists the designs are exclusively for children. “I’d like them to enjoy their life in Chicago a little better. Adults, it’s too late.”
