http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...gallery?index=1

 

 

How appropriate that you posted this.

When I walked by the Daley Center today, I saw the scuplture wearing its "Happy 40th Birthday" hat. The rest is history.

Happy Birthday, you big brown monoptic, ribbed, afghan dog-looking thing, you.

There was a gasp as the light blue covering fell away in several pieces. But it was caused by the basic American fascination for any mechanical feat that goes off as planned.

 

In an instant the Picasso stood there unveiled for all to see.

 

A few people applauded. But at best, it was a smattering of applause. Most of the throng was silent.

 

They had hoped, you see, that it would be what they had heard it would be.

 

A woman, maybe. A beautiful soaring woman. That is what many art experts and enthusiasts had promised. They had said that we should wait that we should not believe what we saw in the pictures.

 

If it was a woman, then art experts should put away their books and spend more time in girlie joints.

 

The silence grew. Then people turned and looked at each other. Some shrugged. Some smiled. Some just stood there, frowning or blank-faced.

 

Most just turned and walked away. The weakest pinch-hitter on the Cubs receives more cheers.

 

They had wanted to be moved by it. They wouldn't have stood there if they didn't want to believe what they had been told that it would be a fine thing.

 

But anyone who didn't have a closed mind·which means thinking that anything with the name Picasso connected must be wonderful could see that it was nothing but a big, homely metal thing.

 

That is all there is to it. Some soaring lines, yes. Interesting design, I'm sure. But the fact is, it has a long stupid face and looks like some giant insect that is about to eat a smaller, weaker insect. It has eyes that are pitiless, cold, mean.

 

But why not? Everybody said it had the spirit of Chicago. And from thousands of miles away, accidentally or on purpose, Picasso captured it.

 

Up there in that ugly face is the spirit of Al Capone, the Summerdale scandal cops, the settlers who took the Indians but good.

 

One of my favorite pieces by Royko.

Happy Birthday, you big brown monoptic, ribbed, afghan dog-looking thing, you.

 

idiot, it's a bird. But I guess you would have a problem identifying one of God's creations

It looked better with the gigantic Sox hat