Western Avenue Series

Mile 21: Foster-Peterson
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 350 acre Rosehill Cemetery was chartered in 1859 and is the oldest and largest non-sectarian cemetery in Chicago.  Rosehill contains the graves of over a dozen mayors of Chicago, four Illinois governors and 12 Civil War Generals.  In addition, it is the largest burial ground of Union Civil War soldiers in the Midwest.

The name of the cemetery is actually the result of an error, the area was previously called "Roe's Hill", named for nearby farmer Hiram Roe. He refused to sell his land to the city until it was promised that the cemetery be named in his honor.  The entrance gate was designed by William W. Boyington, the architect of the Chicago Water Tower.  


Click here to purchase this painting.

Have you visited the graves at Rosehill Cemetery?

Western Avenue Series

Mile 21: Foster-Peterson
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.

Though I am certain that I had ridden the Western Avenue bus along this stretch of Western between Foster and Peterson before walking this stretch, I probably would have found it difficult to describe what was located along this portion of the Avenue.  In part, that lack of distinct memory probably comes because a large portion of the property olong this stretch is occupied by Rosehill Cemetery.  It feels a bit like the stretch of Western which borders the Dan Ryan Woods on the south side of the city--wooded and not as developed as most portions of the city. 

 

This portion of the avenue is also home to a number some typical Chicago brick two flats, modest homes which proliferate the housing stock, as well as a few businesses.  Overall the cemetery seems to dominate the landscape. 

Do you have a favorite Chicago cemetery?

Western Avenue Series

Mile 21: Montrose-Foster
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.

 

By coincidence, I visited the Dank Haus for the first time last Friday.  The Dank Haus building is located just south of Lawrence on Western.  I attended a rehearsal dinner held in the Skyline Lounge on the 6th floor of the building, which has a lovely view from an outdoor patio from which one can see all the way to downtown Chicago.

The DANK Haus was founded in 1959, as an organization to promote German language in Culture.  It is located in Lincoln Square, a historically German neighborhood and home to a number of German bars, restaurants, and butchers and is home to a museum, art gallery, library, and language school.

The building was built in 1927 by architect Paul Gerhardt, who was also the architect of Lane Technical High School located just a bit south of the Dank Haus on Western.  The Dank Haus website explains that the building was built for the "Three Links Association, a jolly fellows club."  Over the years, the Dank Haus has been host to a spa, a business college, a restaurant, a hotel and a cafe.  There is an Olympic sized lap pool in the lower level.

Click here to purchase this painting.

Have you visited the Dank Haus?

Western Avenue Series

Mile 21: Montrose-Foster
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 portion of Western is quite familiar to me.  Western was the first street I encountered when I arrived to Chicago.  I exited 90/94 in a U-Haul onto Western Avenue.  I drove north along Western to my apartment, located just a block west of Western on Carmen.  It was this portion of Western that introduced me to the city.  I was not immediately attracted to the avenue.  The broad streets and hostility to pedestrians and bikes, relative lack of trees, and general resemblance to a suburban commercial strip did not offer the appeal and charm of our city’s neighborhood centers.  Gradually, though, it began to interest me. 

There are so many charms along this stretch that aren't immediately apparent.  Wells Park located just north of Montrose is home to the fantastically delightful Old Town School of Folk Music Folk and Roots festival and to an indoor pool, where I have done a small bit of swimming. 

It is also home to the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, an always fabulous place to visit.  As well as less conventional interests, like the commercial strip just north of Lawrence, which is home to a bridal dress shop which specializes in elaborate, colorful, often sequined frocks.  In addition a furniture shop on that block which sells less common designs, including a round bed.  Finally, one can't forget the country-western singer who turned a storefront into a magic shop.  

In a Chicago Tribune article written by Patrick T. Reardon, I learned that a portion of this mile is included in part of the most diverse area along Western.  Between Lawrence and Devon Avenues, four of the five census tracts here are so variegated that no group can claim a majority. In fact, one tract which is bounded by Western, Peterson, Ravenswood and Devon Avenues, 30 percent of the residents were white in 2000; 28 percent, Asian; 21 percent, Hispanic; 14 percent, African-American and other, 7 percent.

Have you visited this portion of Western Avenue?

Western Avenue Series

Mile 20: Addison-Montrose  
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.

I've eaten at Sticky Rice a number times, as I lived very near to this portion of Western when I first moved to Chicago.  It was a favorite place to have a dinner, when a dependable neighborhood eatery was in demand.  I generally ordered dishes typical of Thai Restaurants in the US, but Sticky Rice offers some more authentic dishes, including  fried worms.  According to an article in the Chicago Tribune written by Louis R Carlozo about this portion of Western, the version of fried worms served at Sticky Rice consists of a pile of inchlong bamboo caterpillar husks on a square porcelain plate, garnished with neat sprigs of cilantro.  He reports that the tan crawlers taste and crunch like peppered potato sticks.

In addition to fried worms, this restaurant features other dishes native to Northern Thailand.  In fact, the restaurant's name comes from the type of glutinous rice used as a substitute for jasmine rice in Northern Thailand.  Northerners eat sticky rice with their hands, in a manner akin to dipping bread in soup.  Sticky Rice offers authentic Northern dishes such as Northern Thai Sausage, made from a mix of ground pork, red curry paste, and Thai spicy herbs, as well as Kow Soy, made with egg noodles, chicken or beef, and a curry coconut milk soup. 


Click here to purchase this painting.

Have you eaten fried worms?

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).