Photo of the Week: Firestone Doors

Ray Manzarek passed away at the age of 74 today. The Doors were one of my favorite bands growing up so I spent some time watching their live performance at the Hollywood Bowl from 1968. I honestly didn’t have a photo lined up for this week until Ray’s death reminded me of this photo. I’ll admit it’s a bit punny but there are also few circumstances in which this photo would be appropriate.

Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr. was born Feb. 12, 1939, in Chicago, and later simplified the spelling of his last name by dropping the “c.”… In 1991, after Oliver Stone’s film biography of the group came out, Manzarek was openly critical of his portrait of the band. “Oliver Stone has assassinated Jim Morrison,” he said at the time. “The film portrays Jim as a violent, drunken fool. That wasn’t Jim.” – L.A. Times

Photo of the Week: Miller Lumber

Miller Lumber was home to studios that Diana rented at Space Division in Humboldt Park, where she made Looping System, an early installation that took up an entire room. She also met Angela Bryant through an open studio that she shared with Sarah Beth Woods a few years earlier. Below is some more information about the historic site:

In 1925, when Louis Miller founded L. Miller & Son Lumber Company at 1815 W. Division Street, there were horses and carriages on the street. Today, as Miller’s grandson, Bob Miller, puts it, “I’m very uncomfortable doing business with baby buggies and lift trucks.  The neighborhood has changed.” – Chicago Pipeline (3/7/12)

The new set of drawings under East Village Association review show a four-story building with 39 apartments above ground-level retail space. A 1st Ward hearing last month indicated 52 units in a five-story building… The original five-story proposal drew concern for rising above its Division Street neighbors and presenting safety risks at the school-bus staging ground along Honore. – East Village Chicago (4/10/12)

Curious to know what’s going on with the Miller Lumber site? We reported almost a year ago the site was being demolished and a new glass/steel structure was being constructed with at least one and possibly 2 restaurants in the commercial space. Lettuce Entertain You has been consulting on this project. Last Fall the entire site was demolished. – Wicker Park Bucktown (1/16/13)

Art at Morton College. Nick Flatley

Nicholas Flatley received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Illinois State University in 2008.  The paintings in his exiting show were inspired by the time he and his brother spent at the Rocky Mountains.                                                                              In 2012, Nick received his MFA at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, where he explored the mountains, both physically and in his art practice.                        Flatley currently lives and works in the suburbs of Chicago. His work is still based on the outdoors and mountains. He plans to eventually move back to the West.

Nick’s work will be on display at Morton College in Building C, second floor, from May 5th through June 16th. This exhibition is free and open to the public.

Morton College. 3801 S Central Ave  Cicero, IL 60804

Curated by Diana Gabriel

Art at Morton College. Juan Fernandez.

Juan Fernandez (b. 1980, Grand Rapids, MI) is currently a photographic artist based in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. His work is in the collection of various private collectors, Columbia College Chicago, and in The Midwest Photographers Project at The Museum of Contemporary Photography. His photographs have been exhibited in shows at the Columbia College of Chicago Library, The Houston Center for Photography, The Midwest Center for Photography, and The Center for Photography at Woodstock.

Juan’s work will be on display at Morton College in Building C, first floor, from May 5th through June 16th.This exhibition is free and open to the public.

Morton College. 3801 S Central Ave  Cicero, IL 60804

Curated by Diana Gabriel

Hardware for Girl with Child

Big congratulations to Maria Abraham and Chris Nelson for winning Best Cinematography at Columbia College Chicago’s Big Screen Film Festival this year! Their film, Girl with Child, screened at the MFA thesis screening this past winter. Maria’s still in Los Angeles but I caught up with Chris because he’s editing Vannin’ for Little Cabin Films… Note to those who backed the film, your contribution made a job for this man.

We had a nice little chat and he let me take two pictures of him, one digital (above) and one on film (below) It’s great to have him in Chicago. He’s the jelly in the doughnut of an emerging doc community here.

I also want to mention that Chris was the cinematographer for Glassmaker, winner of Best Documentary at EgoFest a few years ago. Winning that award inspired us to begin The CG Project to elevate and preserve the accomplishments of our friends and family. I’m proud to use our creative platform for Chris and Maria on their accomplishment.
Enjoy his handy work in Glassmaker, a short doc on art by Katie Creyts.