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photographic study of congress theater's ornamental terra cotta facade

i spent the greater part of my day traversing congress theater's facade scaffolding, to document the largely off-white italian renaissance style terra cotta, anchored firmly against the structure's steel skeleton. records indicate that the terra cotta commission was awarded to the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills. i was in perpetual awe of the skillfully executed design elements packaged into each and every terra cotta panel. it contributes to an overall collection of richly ornamented assemblages that make up a distinctive facade.

i'm still actively exploring and familiarizing myself with the theater's exterior elements, but there comes a point when i have to force myself to implement a more systematic approach - making notes to identify the full spectrum of ornament, the number of glazes or finishes applied (e.g., multiple shades of green), and installation methodologies (visible in areas where damaged panels were removed, exposing the masonry work, anchors, etc.), as well as surface characteristics and conditions (the degree of water infiltration and so on).

photographer unknown. the image is a highly informative "snapshot" depicting the early stages of the theater's construction, with the lobby's steel skeleton frame largely completed. i find it strange how the terra cotta panels, fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, are precariously piled together with nothing placed between them to prevent chipping of the fragile mottled glaze.

i meticulously documented the original, heavily weathered cantilevered riveted joint steel truss designed and built to support the gargantuan vertical marquee sign (the illuminated letters were removed long ago) along with wall anchorage holding up the horizontal marquee sign. through photographic documentation, i now have a visual record to better understand how the vertical and horizontal signage are integrated into the terra cotta facade - from both a structural and aesthetic viewpoint. amazingly, the two similarly configured enclosed switch boards, condulets, and sheathed cloth cord wires were all largely intact. whether the existing truss system retains enough structural integrity to support any signage the restoration may call for remains to be seen.

 the centrally located monogrammed keystone below the corbeled cornice, containing embossed letters for the movie theater chain of lubliner and trinz, is a design feature i rarely find on the facades of chicago's extant movie palaces. i felt compelled to make note of it, especially since i missed it the first time i was on the scaffolding (due in part to limited time and loss of sunlight). at the time i gravitated toward the visually striking light green-colored lunettes, accentuated with two-toned rondels featuring masks with unsettling expressions frozen on their faces. there are other assemblages across the facade (e.g., the scenic panels between the winged eagle capitals) where i got stuck, struggling to capture components in their entirety. though the facade was visually dissected by the scaffolding, i was determined to use this unabridged access to intimately capture the terra cotta. in a way i've been forced to embrace a more "creative" approach, given these constraints. 

toward the end of day, when i reached the horizontal marquee level just below the towering arch top windows, i had entered the "golden hour." the sun had dropped from the sky, producing a soft, diffused light. i much prefer this over direct sunlight during the middle of the day, when the harsh light causes contrast to be extremely high (as seen in some of the photos taken of the cornice and pediment). unfortunately, this short window of time can be a deterrent, i find myself feeling i would rather set my camera equipment down and watch the mesmerizing interplay of sunlight and terra cotta than record it, to see the ornament when it appears more lively and "fluid." it is much like a performance of light, held outside the theater's auditorium.

all images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 museum archive.

 

 

 



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