On Printing House Row in Chicago

Doors on Printer's Row

Doors on Pontiac Building ©2012 Bo Mackison

It feels appropriate that while I am at a photographers convention in downtown Chicago, my hotel and many of the buildings within sight of my destination are part of the Printing House Row Historic District. It isn’t that much of a stretch to connect the early days of newspaper and book printing with the printing of photographs.

I’ve taken just a few photographs. All day workshops and lectures in the evening limit my ability to get out there for a long shoot, though I am anticipating some camera time this weekend. I’ve done my homework and know which of the nearby buildings have historical merit. I did a few morning shots just as the sun was peeking over Lake Michigan, and again when the sun lit some of the buildings.

And I’ve discovered a favorite haunting grounds from my college days, just in a new location. I spent more than a few evenings, studying gross anatomy while munching on Gino’s East pizza.

I’ll post about the conference after I’ve had time to pull my notes together into more cohesive ramblings! And check out the building on Printing House Row.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.  She is attending the Filter Photo Festival in Chicago the week of October 15.  My take on this marvelous conference and learning experience coming soon.

The Sidewalk Heart

It's the Maple Seed

Maple Seed in a Sidewalk Heart © 2012 Bo Mackison

What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow.  ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

This is a photograph of a metaphor for marriage.

See the pretty heart? It was carved out of a part of the pavement on a city sidewalk in Chicago. That seems appropriate. Sherpa and I met on a city street, in Chicago, almost 39 years ago. A stylized heart, such as this one, is a symbol of love, though I always wondered how this shape came to be.

See how the heart is roughly carved? A few hacks and rough spots. Some gouges and uneven outlines. Sounds like most marriages I know. Yes, even the ones that last and last and last. There are gouges and rough spots, but there are a lot more smoothed areas.

See how some dirt has collected in the creases, in a few of the gouges? How there is a smattering of grit and grime around the heart? Well, even in a good marriage, there is great deal of day-to-day clean-up that is required. Most of the grit gets swept away, a bit remains. That’s OK. Marriage is a committed relationship between two imperfect people. No marriage is perfect. But this particular marriage I am writing about has had some perfect moments, some great, and a lot of good enough.

See the maple seed? It’s a bit bedraggled, a bit dirtied by street traffic, but it’s all in one piece. If you planted the twirly seed, there’s a good chance it would grow into a little tree. And the seed has two parts connected, but still each wing has its own seed. In a lasting marriage, there are together times and separate times. Good recipe for keeping a marriage alive.

So maybe I am stretching the maple seed metaphor a bit. But that’s OK, too. When I saw the heart and the seed on the sidewalk a couple of weeks ago, I immediately took a photograph with the intention of writing about it and posting it today, June 12th, 2012, in honor of the 36th anniversary of the wedding of Sherpa and Bo.

Happy Anniversary, Sherpa.

(It ain’t just anyone who gets a bedraggled maple seed in a sidewalk heart photograph for their anniversary!)

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.  She is taking tonight off – no camera! – and celebrating. Dinner for two in NYC!

Making Memories

A Place to Rest

Green Chair on a Porch © 2012 Bo Mackison

“You get to know the worth of a neighborhood by saying ‘howdy’ to the people who sit on their front porches on a summer’s evening. It’s all told in the ‘howdy’ you get back.”

– adapted from a frequent comment from my grandfather, Harry S. Wood, who spent many a summer evening sitting on his front porch.

This past weekend I was in the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park.

President Obama was in Chicago for part of the weekend – his family home is only a few blocks from the art fair area. The University of Chicago is a few blocks the other way and it was alumni weekend. Plus, it was one of those gorgeous Chicago weekends in early summer blessed by the weather gods – sunny, a few clouds to make the sky interesting, mid 70s, no humidity, a sweet breeze off Lake Michigan.

Combine POTUS and his accompanying entourage, the requisite dozens of motorcycle cop and siren duos, a huge U of C alumni party for multiple class years, the oldest juried art fair in Chicago, and perfect weather. You have a recipe for one hectic, but fun-filled weekend.

The show was grand. Big crowds from the neighborhood, the university, the city. Smiling people, excited kids.

The 57th Street Art Fair seems to attract those who love their art. When I took a break to stretch my legs, and look at the other art, I visited booth after booth where artists and customers were in deep discussions about art, techniques, the state of the art world, the state of the art fair world. Truly amazing!

When the show ended each evening, I walked the neighborhood, still bubbling with excitement from the day’s show. There were so many conversations I wanted to hold on to, and remember. They were the stuff that makes being an artist on the art fair circuit a meaningful experience – the conversations, the real discussions about real art with so many age groups – from tweens on up, and sure, the sales were fun, too.

That is the beauty of art fairs, why I do them – the interactions and conversations between the artist and the client are true memory makers.

Thanks, 57th Street…

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.  Bo so enjoyed her trip to the 57th Street Art Fair. The art and artists, the neighborhood and architecture, the friendly atmosphere and friendly people! What a great weekend.

This Weekend in Chicago — 57th Street Art Fair

Great Dogs at the 57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park Chicago

Great Dogs at 57th Street Art Fair © 2011 Bo Mackison

I’m beginning the Summer Art Fair season and taking Seeded Earth Photography on the road today. Sherpa and I are heading to the Hyde Park area in Chicago for the 57th Street Art Fair. Let’s hope the weather gods cooperate and we have a great week-end of weather for strolling this historic art show.

My booth is #716, on the north side of 57th Street.

Enter the booth and you will be in a photo garden!

57th Street Art Fair Hours:

SATURDAY, JUNE 2  11:00 AM TO 6 PM

SUNDAY JUNE 3  10:00 AM TO 5 PM.

The Hunt for Art at the 57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park, Chicago

The Hunt for Art at the 57th Street Art Fair © 2011 Bo Mackison

If you’re in the Chicago area, come and visit. The 57th Street Art Fair is a early summer tradition for all of Chicago! There will be nearly 200 artists – support these artists and their small businesses, get original art, and enjoy strolling the neighborhood. All good stuff!

Mention this post to receive a 10% discount.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. Bo is looking forward to her trip to Hyde Park this weekend — she loves the art, architecture, and friendly atmosphere!

Omni Chicago, Framed

off Michigan Avenue

on the Magnificent Mile

Even though the morning was chilly last week when I walked the streets of River North just off Michigan Avenue, the skies were a lovely deep blue and there was plenty of cloud action to add some life to the buildings.