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Since starting the "Reflection" series a couple weeks ago we have been asked many questions such as can I host a site? YES, YES, and YES........and we added 12 new members because of this series.Amanda Roelle asked if she could host a site and of course I said yes. (bring your comfy chair)
At 30 N. Lasalle stood one of Chicago architects Louis Sullivan and partner Dankmar Adler’s finest work- the Chicago Stock Exchange building built in 1894. Like many buildings built in the late 19th century it had fallen into disrepair and fell victim to Mayor Daley's vision of a sleek and modern downtown where, block by block, the city was being demolished and rebuilt with glass and steel skyscrapers. Despite preservationists best attempt to save it, it was slated for the wrecking ball. Richard Nickel was an activist who was killed in 1972 when a portion of the building collapsed on him during demolition.
A small portion of the building was saved: The trading floor was rebuilt inside the Art Institute of Chicago, and the historic arch from the entrance sits outside of the museum at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive. Interestingly enough, the current 30 N. LaSalle building was just approved this year for preliminary landmark status and stands to benefit from landmark protections and ordinances that were strengthened as a result of the Chicago Stock Exchange Building’s demolition.
In keeping with the "absence through presence" theme of Thursday Nights "Reflection" series, we can reflect on what we lose when we demolish our buildings, and what memories our architecture holds.
https://www.preservationchicago.org/win-preliminary-landmark-designation-of-30-n-lasalle-street-building-heightens-awareness-of-chicago-stock-exchange-building-history-trading-room-and-entry-arch-and-continues-loop-revitalization/?srsltid=AfmBOorvZdheuYsCyNo0sIi6bds1cLvuRD2F8QBqruNx7C-zPCRlCeEc
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/18/story-cities-death-richard-nickel-guardian-chicago-heritage-architecture
Chicago’s history has been shaped by moments of profound crisis and quiet endurance. This series of meetups, titled "Reflection," invites us to honor the memory of the innocent lives, both adults and children, lost in the city's catastrophic events.
The purpose of this series is two-fold: to learn the history of what happened at each site, and to translate your raw emotional response into your sketch.
As artist and good friend, Liying Qian expressed, our aim is about "capturing their presence through absence."
Series Overview & Intent
• Focus: Historical memory, architectural/site context, and emotional expression.
• Approach: Brief historical overview on site, followed by dedicated, silent or reflective sketching time.
• Mediums: Any medium capable of conveying mood.
See you then
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Event venue
30 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60602-2500, United States
Tickets
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