THE LOOP — The Art Institute of Chicago doesn't allow ink pens or flowers, and now: selfie sticks.
In early January, the popular museum at 111 S. Michigan Ave. quietly updated its policies to disallow the elongated rods used to hold smartphones for snapping self-portraits, saying the sticks pose a threat to the museum's treasured art and other guests.
"We love selfies," Art Institute spokeswoman Rebecca Baldwin said, but "selfie sticks are hazardous for the art and other people."
Baldwin stressed that selfies — photos people take of themselves, often with smartphones — are still allowed at the museum. The institute received "tremendous" publicity last year when pop star Katy Perry shot a selfie in front of the museum's various artworks:
David Matthews talks about how the ban affects visitors:
The ban follows similar restrictions recently enforced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and many other cultural institutions worldwide.
In Chicago, Harry's Velvet Bar in Lincoln Park has banned selfies, urging guests to "talk to people" instead. The ban presumably also applies to selfie sticks.
Visit the Art Institute's website for more visitor guidelines.
H/T Associated Press
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