Western Avenue Series

Mile 20: Addison-Montrose 
This sketch is a part of my Western Avenue Series, through which I'll be making 24 watercolor paintings, one to document each mile of Western Avenue, in Chicago.  I started this project because while it is not considered to be among the most “beautiful” of Chicago’s streets, Western Avenue is a perfect place to document the humanness of Chicago, the positive and the negative. In the words of Stuart Dybek, "Western, with apologies to State Street, is a great street,  Unlike State, it is a street that goes to the interior, the heart of the city, as it glides and glows through a United Nations of neighborhoods."  Check back next Monday to see the painting completed based on this sketch.

When I first moved to Chicago, I lived just over a block west of Western on Carmen.  So this mile and the next are among the most familiar portions of the Avenue to me.  One of things I found fascinating about the stretch of Western between Irving park and Lawrence was that it is home to a large number of Thai restaurants. 

In a 2008 article by Louis R. Carlozo in the Chicago Tribune, I discovered the reason for the concentration of Thai restaurants.  There is not especially large Asian population in the area, only about 5 percent.  Apparently, in the 1970s there was a large Thai grocery store located on Western, near to the current location of the Opart Thai.  This began a draw Thai restaurants and the possibility of a Thai town.  I will include Mr. Carlozo's review of the Thai restaurants located along this stretch of Western below. 

Also, located along this stretch is the Waveland Bowl, a bowling alley which has been in operation since 1959 and accomodated portions of the "Lebowski Fest Chicago," a 2008 festival celebrating the movie "The Big Lebowski." 

I also took note of the F.L. Siegel Jr. Studio Photography, being charmed by the storefront operation of an independent photographer.  In researching the studio, I was sad to find that Francis L. "Larry" Siegel, Jr. died this Febrary at the age of 72.  According to his obituary, he was born in Joliet and  employed by Signode Steel, Chicago as a systems analyst.  As well as being self-employed as a photographer, videographer and award manufacturer operating F. L. Siegel Jr. Studios on Western Avenue.

Finally, I've always been curious about Jeri's Grill, a classic diner at the corner of Montrose and Western.  I've never ventured in but the reviews are unsurprising.  I particularly enjoyed one Yelp review, which reads:
"Memories, memories, memories.  The food is really nothing special and not worth talking about.  Your average diner food, basically.  The ambience and feel of this place is just classic though.  It's a dying breed sort of place.  These places used to litter the city, now they are few and far between.  This is the sort of place your dad used to sit and read "The Chicago Daily News." My parents used to take me in here, many years ago, so I've literally been going there for 20 years.  My dad used to run his business a block away so he frequented it, and upon my descending to the earth, the gift was bequeathed to me.  Also, this is the only place in the city, to date, that can get over hard eggs right."
 
Here are a summary of the Thai Restaurants located along Western according to a 2008 article Chicago Tribune article by Louis R. Carlozo:

Thai Room, 4022 N. Western Ave., 773-539-6150
The vibe: Open since 1979, it's a hushed, elegant Baby Boomer magnet capable of dishing takeout in a stunning 12 minutes. Signature dish is Thai room chicken, fried and glazed in an orange sauce.
Sticky Rice, 4018 N. Western Ave., 773-588-0133
The vibe: Only northern Thai spot, which means fewer curries and lots of adventure foods, from fried worms to durian (a fruit some have compared to eating a gym sock). Haven to hipsters from Wicker Park and beyond.
Spoon Thai, 4608 N. Western Ave., 773-769-1173
The vibe: Relaxed but spiffy, and proud of its Zagat recommendation. Only place you're likely to find mussel omelet or curried catfish cooked in banana leaves.
Thai Oscar, 4638 N. Western Ave., 773-878-5922
The vibe: Bangkok dining spot meets Japanese teahouse. Only Thai restaurant on the strip with a sushi bar, decorated with a sign in Japanese.
Opart Thai House, 4658 N. Western Ave.,
773-989-8517
The vibe: Tucked under the Western Brown Line stop, this spacious restaurant is family and vegan friendly. Ideal place for newbies to sample their first pad Thai.
Rosded, 2308 W. Leland Ave., 773-334-9055
The vibe: Less than 100 steps from Western and Leland, Rosded came first, in 1976. Cozy enough for 10 small tables -- and enough loyal customers that the staff says it would discourage a visit from "Check, Please."
Snow Spice, 4825 N. Western Ave., 773-754-7660
The vibe: Open just five months, it's the only predominantly takeout Thai restaurant on the Western strip -- and the only place where you can also snag the occasional Mexican dish too.

Gratitude

as a long project nears completion
     Those of you who know me well have heard me speak ad nauseam about my series of paintings of Western Avenue in Chicago.  Frequent blog visitors have tracked my northerly progress down the avenue with each new painting documenting a one mile stretch of the street starting at the southern border of the city (119th Street).  

     My work on the series began in January 2011.  During the research phase, I walked the full length of Western in Chicago (24 miles), a fact of which I'm rather proud.  On an unseasonably warm Friday in January, I walked the first 21 miles, making notes, taking photographs, and making quick sketches along the way.  Two days later I walked the last three miles completing my journey from 119th Street to Howard Steet.  Ever since I've been gradually making paintings in the series.  To date, I have twenty paintings complete, with just four remaining.  
     The project represents a series of milestones for me.  It is the first larger collection of thematic paintings I've completed, 24 paintings in all.  It is the first painting project for which I have received a grant, actually two grants: the City of Chicago Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Grant and the Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Support Grant.  In providing formal credit I should say,  this project is supported by a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.  As well as this project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
     Finally, the project represents my first solo exhibit in the gallery space of an organization dedicated to the arts.  I showed two of the paintings in the a.DOT (architectsDOING OTHER THINGS) group show in October.  The project will culminate this May with a solo show, "At the Heart of the City: Western Avenue in 24 Paintings," featuring the full series at the Beverly Art Center.  I had a particular desire to show the paintings at a space on Western Avenue, so the Beverly Art Center, located at 111th Street and Western, is the perfect place!  
     It is incredibly gratifying to be near to the completion of this large project.  I am so very appreciative of many of you--the support and encouragement you've provided has been invaluable in bringing this project to fruition, THANK YOU!  I would be delighted if you are able to join me at the exhibit reception on Saturday, May 19th, from 7 to 9PM.  The exhibit will be on display in the Atrium Gallery of the Beverly Art Center from May 5th-28th.  The address of the Beverly Art Center is 2407 W. 111th Street (the corner of Western and 111th).    

Western Avneue Series

Mile 19: Diversey to Addison
This painting is a part of my Western Avenue Series, through which I'll be making 24 watercolor paintings, one to document each mile of Western Avenue, in Chicago.  I started this project because while it is not considered to be among the most “beautiful” of Chicago’s streets, Western Avenue is a perfect place to document the humanness of Chicago, the positive and the negative. In the words of Stuart Dybek, "Western, with apologies to State Street, is a great street,  Unlike State, it is a street that goes to the interior, the heart of the city, as it glides and glows through a United Nations of neighborhoods."  Check back next Monday to see a post about the next mile of Western.

A viaduct is defined as a long bridgelike structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road or railroad across a valley or other low ground.  The Viaduct Theater in Chicago, which was established in 1998 is quite literally located under a viaduct that runs over Western Avenue.  It is tucked under the viaduct, just south of Belmont in a bit of an out-of-the-way location.  In fact, a number reviews of the theater note that it can be a bit hard to find.  I was charmed by the unexpectedness of the location and the opportunity to bring life to otherwise, sparsely used portion of Western Avenue. 

The viaduct theater provides a forum for theater, film, art, dance, and music.  People describe theater as intimate, but not cramped.  One reviewer said that, "the front rows were closer to the front of the stage than I've ever seen before." The space has been described as "hole-in-the-wall-ish," "feels grungy but it is very clean," and "a bit industrial."

I was entirely charmed by the theater and hope to see a performance there sometime soon.

Have you been to the viaduct theater? 

Western Avenue Series

Mile 19: Diversey-Addison
This sketch is a part of my Western Avenue Series, through which I'll be making 24 watercolor paintings, one to document each mile of Western Avenue, in Chicago.  I started this project because while it is not considered to be among the most “beautiful” of Chicago’s streets, Western Avenue is a perfect place to document the humanness of Chicago, the positive and the negative. In the words of Stuart Dybek, "Western, with apologies to State Street, is a great street,  Unlike State, it is a street that goes to the interior, the heart of the city, as it glides and glows through a United Nations of neighborhoods."  Check back next Monday to see the painting completed based on this sketch.

This stretch of Western is a bit unusual because where the Avenue crosses the North Branch of the Chicago river. there is a bridge and a long stretch of overpass.  The overpass creates two levels of street, cars whiz along the upper section, while the lower section is a dark forest of concrete columns with small structures lining the street. 

The Riverview Amusement park, which opening in 1904 and operated for more than six decades, was once located along this section of Western.  Riverview was the last of big amusement parks that once dotted Chicago.  At its close it had 120 ride, including six rollercoasters, a parachute jumps and rockets.

Just north of where Riverview once stood, is Lane Tech High School, which began in 1905 as the Thomas Hoyne Manual Training High School.  Today it is one of Chicago's public college prep high schools and home to eleven beautiful WPA murals.

Have you seen the beautiful Lane Tech murals?

Western Avenue Series

Mile 18: Armitage to Diversey
This painting is a part of my Western Avenue Series, through which I'll be making 24 watercolor paintings, one to document each mile of Western Avenue, in Chicago.  I started this project because while it is not considered to be among the most “beautiful” of Chicago’s streets, Western Avenue is a perfect place to document the humanness of Chicago, the positive and the negative. In the words of Stuart Dybek, "Western, with apologies to State Street, is a great street,  Unlike State, it is a street that goes to the interior, the heart of the city, as it glides and glows through a United Nations of neighborhoods."  Check back next Monday to see a post about the next mile of Western.

The subject of this painting is Revolution Tattoo & Art Gallery.  Revolution caught my eye because it is both elegantly detailed, with checker-board brickwork and colorfully adorned by intricate window signage.  Not only that, I was intrigued by the fact that it is both a tattoo shop and an art gallery.  Revolution is the brainchild of Cheri Basak and Omar Gutierrez. According to their website, "They wanted to provide an ever-changing, creative environment for themselves and more importantly, their clients. Most of the artwork shown and sold here is illustrative, usually low-brow, religious, sexual, sometimes controversial, and for obvious reasons, tattoo related."  The gallery has been in operation since 2002, featuring many local fine artists and tattoo artists.

I love the idea of increasing the accessibility of art, by showing the work of artists in unexpected places, like tattoo shops. 

What is the most interesting formal or informal "gallery" space you know?