revisiting chicago's past through architectural remnants

after spending the day engaging with people over my pop-up exhibition of "fragments from chicago's past," i brought some of the architectural artifacts to my studio to photograph before they return to the bldg. 51 museum.

i cleaned, documented, and photographed each and every fragment, both individually and as an assemblage for a few hours. although they are humble fragments, they represent something much greater- a house or building that has succumbed to the wrecking ball or been senselessly altered.

through photographic documentation and/or exhibition of these artifacts, the building's of chicago's past will never be forgotten, or at least that is my hope - and what drives me to take the time to meticulously identify, research, and catalog these "parts," to prevent a disconnect between objects and the narratives that give them meaning and historical significance.  

whether it's a rivet from the chicago "l" or a single square nail salvaged from a chicago cottage built during chicago's infancy, these seemingly mundane objects are transformed into something incredibly meaningful, even extraordinary, when placed in the proper context.

even as a standalone object, a combination of design characteristics - and often times - surface patina, invoke a sense of mystery, importance, and yearning to identify what exactly it is and where it came from. when that narrative is known, the object takes on greater significance, which often inspires me to want to learn anything and everything about the object's role in a particular history.

this maniacal obsession, to seek out fragments being discovered and/or rediscovered, is such deeply meaningful and fulfilling experience that i'm almost certain it's an impossible project to ever walk away from.