Photo Fridays: Bird tank + Pencil tank

Bird tank, photograph, 2003

This was taken in the West Loop with the Hancock in the background. I think a cool use of the old watertanks is to paint murals on them that reflects the neighborhood or Chicago in general.

Pencil tank, photograph, 2008

This watertank is on top of an old pencil factory in Roscoe Village (I can see it from my studio). The tank is painted with pencils in homage to the building's original use. It's now all condos, of course. The building in the foreground is now vacant but used to be a wood-working facility.

In the Studio - Watertank screen-prints

I recently set up a screen-printing work area in my studio. I created about 15 screen-prints of a watertank to varying degrees of success. I used two techniques to create the design: stenciling and drawing fluid to get the effects and multiple layers of color. The shot above is of the prints drying on a rope I strung across the width of my space. A few close-ups are below...

Cornelia Arts Building Icicles

There are some pretty cool icicles hanging from my studio building today. Someone told me we're only half-way through winter. Ugh...

Photo Fridays: Bus Graveyard

Bus Graveyard (yellow), photograph, 2003

Bus Graveyard (white), photograph, 2003

These two shots are from 2003 of the old CTA bus graveyard under the El tracks near Montrose and Broadway. I snuck in and wandered around the scrap heaps of metal, wires, trash, and buses from an era long gone. This plot of land running between Montrose and Wilson along Broadway is called Wilson Yards and is part of a large TIF program (aka, city development slush fund). There's been controversy around re-development of this area for about 10 years now and recent community debate. As the economy continues to be stalled, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out especially since the larger retailers have pulled out...

Photo Fridays: Sears Tower Reflection

Sears Tower Reflection, photograph, 2005

I shot this in 2005 while walking around the Loop and South Loop. I remember it was around dusk and the sun was starting to bounce colors off west-facing windows. I lucked out with the right time of day and angle to get the reflection of Sears Tower in this storefront window.

Wishbone Opening Reception - January 15th

Opening Reception at WISHBONE - Presented by Friends of the Arts

When: Thursday, January 15, 2009 6pm-9pm

Where: Wishbone, 3300 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

I'll be showing new (and some old) paintings at Wishbone during January. Stop by the reception on Thursday January 15th. There will be light appetizers and drinks in the Wishbone Lounge.

Download the flyer here (PDF).

Hope to see you!

-Kevin

Photo Fridays: Wrigleyville Watertank

Wrigleyville Watertank, photograph, 2008

This is another shot in my ongoing series of watertanks. After a long bike ride downtown this past summer, I rode through my old neighborhood on the way back north. I took this shot in an alley a couple blocks from my first Chicago apartment near Broadway and Addison.

I was originally going to use this as an image for some screen prints but there is not enough contrast -- too many gray tones that won't show up well. But, I think this may be a good candidate for a large print or giclée printed on canvas.