Made in Chicago

7 Photographers Interpret Local Products

April 10 - June 30, 2003

Artistic photographs of products "Made in Chicago" will be shown at City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, 806 N. Michigan Ave., April 10 - June 30. Working with the American Society of Media Photographers, the Public Art Program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned seven photographers to create studies of several different products as a reminder that hundreds of Chicago businesses manufacture products ranging from the Ford Taurus to lava lamps to Oscar statuettes.

Made in Chicago was inspired by the breadth of manufacturers present within Chicago’s city limits. Industry has played a pivotal role in the development of Chicago’s economic success directly contributing to the city’s civic and cultural health. Respecting the role of manufacturing in the broader context of contemporary urban life is one of the primary motivations of this exhibition.

The photographers included in Made in Chicago each have years of experience taking commercial, fine art and journalistic photographs in Chicago. Each has a unique approach to interpreting their products, ranging from production line images to creating installations using the products and then shooting them, to studio shoots similar to fashion photography. All are members of the Chicago Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers.

• Eric Futran, (above) known for his photographs of food, pays tribute to corned beef with photographs of the people who make the beef at Vienna Beef, 2501 N. Damen Ave., and the people who eat the beef at Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli, 1141 S. Jefferson St.

• Matthew Gilson photographed Radio Flyer, 6515 W. Grand Ave., the maker of “little red wagons;” Nystrom Globes, 3333 W. Elston Ave., and Custom Locomotive & Foundry (image at left), 1750 N. Campbell, maker of steam and diesel locomotives for amusement parks and private use – to create a travel and transportation theme. For each location, Gilson has created one defining photograph and a flip book of images that can be handled.

• Lorraine Hart (above) worked with Katrina Markoff, the owner of Vosges Chocolates, 520 N. Michigan Ave., and Chicago designer Steve Liska to plan images that say the spices are as important as the cocoa to these chocolates. The team’s concept resulted in elaborate studio shoots, where hair and makeup artists prepared models who were swathed in brightly colored fabrics and held chocolates and exotic spices from around the globe.

• Robert E. Potter III went first to Lyon & Healy Harps, 168 N. Ogden Ave., to show the relationship between the harp maker and a piece of wood, then to Symphony Center to capture Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Harpist Sarah Bullen with her instrument and how the finished harp is perceived by the audience.

• I. Carmen Quintana (above) focused on her home for a number of years, showing small narratives of daily living concentrating especially on those activities in and around her kitchen sink. While considering what product she wanted to show in this exhibition, she noticed how Solo products (Solo Cup Company, various Chicago locations) have become an everyday part of her household. She created installations using Solo cups, containers and lids and photographed them. Ms. Quintana also will present “micro and macro views of a product everyone knows”: Morton Salt, 1357 N. Elston Ave. The photos will show the pouring of huge mounds of salt in the factory and a tiny amount of salt that was carefully poured into a bowl and a crystal shaker in the kitchen sink.

  

• Loren Santow’s sensual black-and-white images of hand tools from S-K Hand Tool Corp., 3535 W. 47th St., have reduced the tools to their elemental form and finish. The bright chrome finish of some tools contrasts with the dark drop forged finish of others, while the extreme closeups emphasize curves and mounds, evoking images of sand dunes.

  

• Neil Schierstedt’s documentary and art photos explore the production line that formulates and packages the solution for Mr. Bubbles toys at Strombecker Corp., 600 N. Pulaski Rd. Starting with giant hoppers of solution and bottles, every step of the “clock-work procedure” is automated... except inserting the bubble wands into the bottles, which is done by hand.

Made in Chicago will move to a new exhibition space in Terminal 2 at O’Hare Airport for six months after the exhibition closes at City Gallery. It will be the first exhibit in the new space.

This exhibition is presented in cooperation with the Chicago Department of Planning and Development’s Made in Chicago Program which helps to publicize local manufacturers.

Schedule for 2003