About this Event
The Wonder Walk: A Chicago Discovery Tour
Join local artist and multidisciplinary designer, John Robert Hatherly, on a unique journey that transforms everyday Chicago into a landscape of discovery and delight. This in-person experience invites you to rediscover the city through fresh eyes.
This isn't your typical city tour, it's an invitation to wonder. Using a special viewfinder inspired by revolutionary artist-educator Sister Corita Kent, you'll discover hidden treasures in familiar places. Learn to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary as we explore Chicago's vibrant urban landscape.
Your experience includes:
- A curated 2.5-hour journey through Chicago's most fascinating spaces
- Custom discovery kit with viewfinder, materials, and custom-designed art print
- Artist-led explorations of hidden patterns and unexpected beauty
- Intimate group size (maximum 15 participants) ensuring personal attention
- Optional group lunch gathering afterward (not included in ticket price)
Starting at the Chicago Cultural Center, we'll weave through the heart of the city, concluding in the enchanting Lurie Garden. Along the way, you'll develop a practice of wonder that extends far beyond our tour.
What to Bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing (tour runs rain or shine)
- Your curiosity and openness to new perspectives
- Smartphone or camera (optional)
- Water bottle
Schedule:
- 10:00 AM: Meet at Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St)
- 10:15 AM: Introduction and kit distribution
- 10:30 AM - Walking tour begins
- 12:00 PM - Guided discussion at Lurie Garden
- 12:45 PM - Official end of tour
- 1:00 PM - Optional group lunch (dutch treat)
Moments of Delight
I thought after living in Chicago for almost 30 years, I had seen just about everything in the city’s downtown. After attending a walking tour led by John Hatherly, I realized just how wrong I was. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city that you miss all of the small details that make this city so unique. The tour started with an intention given to us by Hatherly to help focus our mind and hone in on what was around us. To help, we were given a small window viewfinder that channeled our sight to the small details the city has to offer. On the 2hr round trip walk we stopped at different spots of interest to really look at everything around us. From colors, to graffiti, to architectural details, to cracks in the sidewalk, everything came alive and became of interest. I highly recommend going on a walking tour with John if you are ready to look at the world in a new way.
Cheryl B.
About Your Guide
John Robert Hatherly is a Chicago-based artist, multi-disciplinary designer, and host of The Infinite Search podcast whose heart-centered approach to life focuses on awakening curiosity and inspiring wonder in everyday spaces. Known for their expansive, hyper-color abstract art and immersive experiences, John creates transformative opportunities for people to see the world—and themselves—differently.
Through The Infinite Search podcast, John explores the search for meaning through conversations with artists, changemakers, healers, and scientists, weaving together stories that illuminate the intersections of creativity, humanity, and purpose. As the founder of Chamber, a purpose-driven design and innovation studio, and Sondwerk, an experimental art practice focused on inquiry and play, John brings a unique perspective to urban exploration. Their work has been exhibited at The Chicago Design Museum, The Other Art Fair Chicago, and the Chicago Fine Art Salon, among others.
The Wonder Walk emerged from John's belief that transformation happens through playful exploration and deep looking. Drawing inspiration from Sister Corita Kent's revolutionary teaching methods, John designed this experience to help others discover the extraordinary in the ordinary, creating moments of wonder in unexpected places.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Schedule
Info: 10:00 AM - Meet at Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St)
10:15 AM - Introduction and kit distribution
10:30 AM - Walking tour begins
12:00 PM - Guided discussion at Lurie Garden
12:30 PM - Official end of tour
12:45 PM - Optional group lunch (dutch treat)
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
78 E Washington St, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, United States
USD 43.30
