February 20, 2009 – A drawing, made last October from Marina City using a special curved easel to create a realistic panoramic rendering, is currently on display at The Field Museum.

The drawing was created from the patio of a condominium unit on the 29th floor of the east residential tower. Mounted on a tripod, the easel has a concave metal grid that holds a large piece of curved drawing paper. A plaster head-cap helps keep the artist’s head stationary.

Twins Trevor and Ryan Oakes invented the drawing method in 2004. They have done other drawings in Chicago, but Marina City is the only high vantage point. According to an article in Chicago Reader last October, the condo unit belongs to Alice Gallen, an IT consultant for Accenture, who met the Oakes while they were drawing Cloud Gate in Millennium Park.

The drawing will be in the East Atrium of The Field Museum until March 30.

(Top photo) Artist Trevor Oakes recreates a view of Wacker Drive from the balcony of a residential unit at Marina City last October. (Photo by Ryan Oakes.) In the bottom photo, the final artwork, as photographed by Trevor.

 Chicago Reader article: The Magic Easel