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If you are in or around Chicago, you have got to go to the retail store named Primitive, three floors of rare antiquities, ancient art, and authentic craft from cultures all over the world. Each object is artfully arranged to showcase the individual item in the context of a room. The effect is amazing and it’s all for sale.
The creative forces behind Primitive have a great eye for eclectic art objects displayed in a balance that makes everything easy to see. Some of the items we loved were: the 18th Century Asian carved doorways, rare books and manuscripts over 500 years old, embroidery from Indonesia, authentic Kenta Cloth, hand-woven African textiles, Scholar rocks shaped by water, effigies, and urns. There were many sculptures with spiritual significance and were over six feet tall. The day we were there a couple was getting married in a room that resembled a Buddhist Temple. You entered through a carved rosewood door into a room with an alter complete with statues of Buddha.
The retail experience is set up to transport you to understanding and appreciating other cultural icons. We got to make a wish on a Shiva Lingam Sacred Stone. It is a smooth black rock the shape of a large bullet. It is enlivened when water is poured on it. It represents the creative principal of bringing something from nothing. They are found in an area in Central India during the dry season on a half-mile stretch of Narmada River.
Around the corner from Primitive is a great retail food mall called The French Market. We walked about two blocks and found a wide variety of fresh food made on the spot and a grocery store with quality vegetables, bread, and fruit to take with you. Primitive has a parking lot next to it and there is on the street parking as well. Cost: $8.00 for 2 hours.
Website: www.beprimitive.com
September 28, 2023
