Tag Archives: Chicago

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Photography at Lula, Urbanautica

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Those of you who have been to Lula in the last month know that my photos are included in the Spring 2010 show, which is curated by Anders Nilsen and Marianne Fairbanks. The show focuses on the economy and housing and pairs my images with work by two other Chicago artists: Alyssa Miserendino and Alysia Kaplan.

If you’re not ready to head to Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood right now, there’s a nice feature on the Isolated Building Studies at the Italian photography compendium Urbanautica. The website also recently featured new work by another Chicago photographer, Dave Jordano.

Urbanautica

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February and March Fast Track Lists

As I mentioned in October:

    Chicago’s Fast Track Abatement Program is a final step for buildings deemed by the city to be “vacant” and “open” and “constitute a hazard to the community.” Owners of buildings on the list must take corrective action upon receiving notice of the condition of the building. If they do not, the city reserves the ability to take the action for them, including demolishing the building and charging the owner for the demolition.

The following notices were published in the Chicago Sun-Times in February and March 2010.

February 2010 Fast Track Abatement Program List


View February 2010 Fast Track List in a larger map

March 2010 Fast Track Abatement Program List


View March 2010 Fast Track List in a larger map

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Two Thoughts About the Chicago Auto Show

While the Chicago Auto Show could certainly provide enough material to fill a book length project, I’d like to quickly draw attention to two unexpected examples of subordination that caught my eye on Sunday.

The first — and more obvious example — is that the workers who constantly clean the cars and their displays are nearly invisible to the auto show visitor. While it’s hard to miss the man who is hand dusting the car one is admiring, I didn’t see one visitor actually acknowledge a worker, even if that worker was a foot away or on his knees in front of the visitor. A few illustrations are below.

Chicago Auto Show Workers

That said, the more surprising phenomenon was the seemingly ubiquitous desire to play the role of a criminal suspect by placing one’s hands (or, in the case of wearing imaginary handcuffs, one’s chest) on the hood or trunk of a police vehicle. Not once did I see someone play the role of the police officer with a police car; instead, the performance was always that of a suspect. The act was often done for sake of a photograph, and spanned all ethnic categories. Again, a few examples are below.

People Getting Arrested

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The Opportunity Shop

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A variety of new efforts at reconceptualizing the built environment are emerging as communities grapple with vacancies caused by the economic downturn. I’ve recently become involved with one of the many new initiatives on the South Side of Chicago: The Op Shop.

As described by its founders, who run Home Gallery:

The Opportunity Shop is a transitory, experimental space for new art in Hyde Park.

The Op Shop is dedicated to creating alternative sites of exchange around art in vacant urban spaces. Come be a part of its first incarnation on East 55th Street, where local artists have produced an evolving, total installation of video, photography, drawing, and sculpture.

This large storefront, made available by Mac Properties for a token fee, offers a chance to create innovative encounters between artists and audiences, and new ways of connecting art to urban change.

Several dozen artists (including myself) have signed on to participate in this first attempt.

Here are a handful of images of the space:

The façade, including “Flood Drawing” by Anders Nilsen:
The Opportunity Shop Façade

November 21, 2009:
The Op Shop Interior, Before

November 29, 2009:
The Opportunity Shop Interior

One of my installations:
Isolated Building Studies Installation

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October Fast Track Abatement Program Map

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Chicago’s Fast Track Abatement Program is a final step for buildings deemed by the city to be “vacant” and “open” and “constitute a hazard to the community.” Owners of buildings on the list must take corrective action upon receiving notice of the condition of the building. If they do not, the city reserves the ability to take the action for them, including demolishing the building and charging the owner for the demolition.

This is the Fast Track Abatement Program legal notice list that was published in the Chicago Sun Times on October 10, 2009.


View October Fast Track List in a larger map

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Trunk Show Opening October 24

Trunk Show

I will be showing a five photograph piece in The Trunk Show.

Here is the announcement:

The opening reception for the TRUNK SHOW will be on Saturday, October 24th, from 7-10pm. Barbara & Barbara Gallery is located at 1021 North Western Avenue (3 blocks south of Division), near the Empty Bottle.

The show will run from October 23rd – November 17th, 2009.

Participating Artists: Sierra Berquist, Ben Bontempo, Peter McLean-Browne, Evan Burrows, Pete Cuba, Fred Frederick, Julia V. Hendrickson, Landon Manucci, Colin Nusbaum, Emma Powell, Scott Reinhard, David Schalliol, Elizabeth Stoutamire, Christopher Sykora, Sean Sykora, Jessie Vogel, Kelly Wallis, Rustél Weiss, Hannah Zurko

Opening Night Musical Performances By: Anna Vogelzang, Vintage Gramma, Julia V. Hendrickson & Marie Barker (accompanied by Chris Gingrich)

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Mapping the CHA’s Plan for Transformation

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With the Chicago Housing Authority‘s Plan for Transformation in full swing, it’s hard to keep track of the location of new mixed income developments — not to mention which of the old family developments haven’t been demolished. Because the CHA website doesn’t have the entire listings, I submitted a request for the full data and mapped it.

The family developments are indicated by blue markers, while the mixed income developments are indicated by targets. Additional information listed on the mixed income development tabs state which public housing project was the original development. Approximate addresses have been substituted where the exact addresses of developments were not listed by the CHA.


View CHA Properties in a larger map

I originally posted this piece on Gapers Block.