Lions & Blackhawks & Bears, Oh my!

Yesterday’s post was about the Art and Food Exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago.  But there was something I didn’t mention:  lions.  Yes, lions.

Guarding the Art Institute of Chicago are two bronze lions who have been at their posts since 1893.  The Art Institute of Chicago opened that year, and the lions have been dutiful centurions ever since.  Rather a boring job, wouldn’t you say? Ah, but these two special kings of the art forest have had their fair share of, shall we say, adornments placed upon them.  Here is what the statues look like during a ‘regular’ day:

Here is how they look at Christmas:

When a major sports team makes the final round of its league’s playoffs, the lions seem to join the festivities.

This is the lion’s share, as it were, of the Chicago Blackhawks!

Uh oh, it looks like some Chicago Bears have invaded Michigan Avenue where the Art Institute of Chicago is located!

Hhhhmm, methinks the lion is sporting some Chicago White Sox!

Ah, what do we have here? Looks like a lot of Chicago Bull(s) to me!

So there you have it, sports fans and non-sports fans alike!  I find the juxtaposition of art, animals, and sports quite amusing.  I’m sure we do not have to wonder where the lions are; they just might be preparing for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series.  Wait, that hasn’t happened since the lions were fifteen years old; yes, my friends, I’ll do the math for you.  The Chicago Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.   The lions are now 121 years old.  By the time the Art Institute Lions bear the Cubs cap, baseball could be played in a floating field with light sabres for bats, and holographic balls.  Even the lions have their pride.