Vincent Video

This photograph by Vincent Cricchio captures the grandeur of Buckingham Fountain, one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks and a celebrated symbol marking the beginning of historic Route 66. Set against the modern skyline, the image juxtaposes the city’s architectural evolution with the classical artistry of the fountain’s Beaux-Arts design. Built in 1927 and modeled after the Latona Fountain at Versailles, its four sea horses represent the four states that border Lake Michigan—Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.

Cricchio’s composition freezes the rhythmic motion of cascading water, transforming the dynamic display into a sculptural moment of balance and vitality. The bright, clear Chicago sky and reflective surface of the water evoke a timeless energy—echoing both the optimism of early American road travel and the enduring spirit of the city at the heart of Route 66.

This image stands as a tribute to movement, design, and the living pulse of urban America.

2010 Route 66 Chicago IL The fountain by Vincent Cricchio 2010 Route 66 Chicago IL The fountain Photograph by Vincent Cricchio

2010 Route 66 Chicago Illinois 'The bean'
At the symbolic start of Route 66, this photograph captures the surreal underside of Chicago’s famed Cloud Gate sculpture—affectionately known as “The Bean.” Cricchio’s lens transforms Anish Kapoor’s monumental public artwork into an abstract vortex of light and reflection, where architecture, sky, and people dissolve into a liquid-like continuum. The mirrored surfaces distort perception, pulling the viewer inward toward a luminous center that evokes both infinity and self-discovery.

Historically, Cloud Gate (completed in 2006) has become an icon of Chicago’s Millennium Park, embodying the city’s modern identity and reflective relationship with its skyline and visitors. Cricchio’s 2010 image transcends documentation, instead presenting an experiential encounter—an echo of Route 66’s spirit of movement and exploration. The photograph invites viewers to contemplate the merging of art, travel, and human curiosity within the mirrored pulse of the urban landscape.

2010 Route 66 Illinois ChicagoThe Bean by Vincent Cricchio 2010 Route 66 Illinois ChicagoThe Bean Photograph by Vincent Cricchio