Chicago has been in the architectural news quite a bit lately.
Image via art.newcity.com
However, the city might also be getting one other feather in its cap. Artist Matthew Haussler recently completed what might be the world’s longest hand-drawn picture maze, and its subject: Chicago’s lakefront. The 73 1/2 feet long by 3 feet tall drawing shows many of the landmarks from downtown’s east side, but with the linework forming a navigable labyrinth. There are views of Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum along with park-goers and even a marathoner, who is working his way toward the finish line in Grant Park. A real, live, solvable maze, the panorama takes on another layer of artistic meaning by depicting samaritans doing selfless acts
Image courtesy Matthew Haussler.
The drawing will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records, and there is a good chance it will break the record, which is held by Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos’ 4-foot-by-34-foot maze. Should he win, it will be a hard-earned victory. It took him eight months to complete the project. “I had long hair, and I looked really crazy after drawing it,” Haussler told the Chicago Tribune.
Image courtesy Matthew Haussler.
Naturally, maze enthusiasts have already expressed interest in trying to solve it. Haussler will let them give it a go before he releases a 156-step hint list. The drawing will be available online soon.
Image courtesy Matthew Haussler.
Image courtesy Matthew Haussler.
