A classmate of mine told me about an event she was going to that supported undocumented persons living in Chicago hosted by The Museum of Mexican Art. I wanted to go along to learn more about this group of people, and hear their stories about life as an undocumented resident of the city.
Here is the handout which listed all of the artists and performers at the night's event. To learn more about the organization Undocumented IL, please refer to the first paragraph found on this handout. You can also visit their website: http://www.iyjl.org/undocuil/
Undocumented IL: Event's artists and performers
It was such a lively atmosphere to step into. People of all ages and backgrounds filled the room as they wandered around looking at art. There was a wide variety of art forms such as sculpture, paintings, drawings, photography, and mixed media. Every piece on display was available for purchase, with the proceeds going towards fundraising for the organization.
The Undocumented IL event's art display.
A sample of paintings on display at the Undocumented IL event.
A painting from the Undocumented IL art display.
An ink drawing with a high gloss varnish on display at the Undocumented IL event.
A selection of prints on display at the Undocumented IL event.
The event also had numerous performers on stage doing spoken word, rapping, and singing. Every piece was an exploration and expression of the experience of being an undocumented resident of Chicago themselves, or being the children of undocumented parents. Hearing their stories was extremely powerful. One of the most impactful themes I heard while at this event was about the pain and frustration of not being able to live without freely.
A spoken word artist performing at the Undocumented IL event.
A band performing at the Undocumented IL event.
The night fostered a spirit of celebrating the true identities of those who are labeled as "undocumented." The main message was to be unapologetic for having a status of undocumented. The work that is being done my this organization is truly inspiring!
On Saturday, April 19th, 2014 history was made in Chicago, and I got to be a part of it through my internship with The Trust for Public Land. A part of the design for The Bloomingdale Trail includes moving a century old bridge that once stretched over Ashland Avenue into a new home over Western Avenue.
I woke up at 4am to travel up to Wicker Park to participate in "the bridge parade" which started at 5:30am. Staff from all different companies working on The 606 project were there following behind this massive bridge as it was maneuvered along the streets of Ashland Avenue, North Avenue, and Western Avenue.
This video footage is the bridge coming out onto the street for the first time. Take a look!!! (Note: you may want to turn down your volume before playing as this machinery was quite loud)
The man you see in this video used a very impressive hand controller with multiple joysticks to control the vehicle which transported the Ashland Bridge.
The driver of the Ashland Bridge move.
We traveled along side the bridge as it moved along its route to Western Avenue. Things got a little tight when the bridge had to go underneath the Blue Line stop at Damen Avenue. There were mere inches to spare between the bridge and then elevated tracks.
The Ashland Bridge travelling underneath the Blue Line tracks at Damen Avenue.
It was incredible to see such a huge structure rolling down the streets of such an iconic neighborhood. I am particularly proud of this shot of the bridge on North Avenue as it passes in front of the historic Bath Houses early in the morning.
The Ashland Bridge moving down North Avenue.
Once the bridge came to its final resting place news crews were everywhere. Beth White, the Director of Chicago's Trust for Public Land chapter, gave interviews for so many different news crews. Seeing one of my internship supervisors in action during one of the most monumental aspects of The Bloomingdale Trail's construction was very inspiring!
Beth White, the Director of The Trust for Public Land Chicago, doing and interview about the bridge move.
After a while of watching the construction crew prepare the bridge to be lifted into its new placement over Western Avenue Mayor Rahm Emanuel showed up. It was a frenzy as everyone tried to gather around him.
I was fortunate enough to be up at the front of the action, and got to see him having a laugh with the man who maneuvered the bridge through the streets. The picture below shows the Mayor playfully sizing up the bicep muscle of the bridge vehicle driver.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the driver of the vehicle carrying the Ashland Bridge.
All of the staff members who I get to work with at my internship were joking with me throughout the morning about how much I have been able to see during my time with them. It has been such an amazing experience, and I have ACM to thank for making this opportunity possible.
On Thursday I went to the Chicago chapter convention of the NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists) as a "young professional Latina journalist". It was held at the Univisión Headquarters, which was super cool because we got a tour of their studio. Look at me! I swapped business cards with some VIP's and had some meaningful convos.
This is Ms. Dorothy, our Core Corse instructor! She took us on a tour of her old stompin' ground--the Bronzeville neighborhood. I really appreciated this because I would never have gone to this neighborhood if it hadn't been for core course. And even if I had, I wouldn't have known the meaning behind all of the landmarks there. I probably wouldn't have even recognized the landmarks as landmarks. #GenerallyOblivious
We went to a police station in Bronzeville that had a bunch of murals. These murals are part of the PErcent for Art Ordinance. This ordinance says that a specific percentage of money going towards the creation/renovation of a chicago public building must go towards public art in the building. Of that percentage, half of the money must go towards bringing artists that are local to Chicago. Chicago was the first city in the nation to have something like this! #NotTheSecondCity
Wow, I really wish I could remember what this statue represented. I thought it was cool enough to take a picture of it. Ms. Dorothy, if you're reading this, help?
This is the music artist based in Minneapolis, Caroline Smith. I went to her concert at a bar called Schubas. It was amazing! I included a video below. #Besties
I didn't record it, but I really like her song called Half About Being A Woman. Here's a sample of the lyrics:
"Being a woman
Is half about being wrong
The other half led me to be singing this song "
Also check out her song "Child of Moving On" (<<that's a link. You can click it! :O #Technology)
Two girls from Germany, Junika and Liz, who I didn't know came and stayed with me this weekend. It's a friend of a friend ofa friend thing. So we took pics at the bean and walked down the Magnificent Mile #StillATourist
2nd Story is a like NPR's The Moth but more chill. Like Katie said, they gave us cupcakes. Mine was German Chocolate. Not that you care. I'm just bragging.
Speaking of The Moth... Last night I went to the Moth event in Chicago! The topic was "song". Our very own ISP instructor Jason Pallas performed! Learned new things about Jason #PeopleAreComplicated
So The Moth event was held at Haymarket Bar and on our way back to the El, we ran into HarpoStudios! Too bad Oprah's getting rid of it. #TooGoodForOprah
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. They say photos speak louder than words. Well, I'm either a really bad photographer, or those expressions are some BS, Kodak propaganda, because despite my best efforts to keep this just a photoblog, I couldn't help but include some detailed captions.
A picture might tell a 1,000 words, but can it really tell the whole story?
(ugh, makes me cry that you're too ADD to actually watch that)
Friday night after my shift at iO, my fave performer grabbed me and was like, "HEY COME UP AND PERFORM WITH US." And I was like, "ARE YOU CRAZY NO WAY." And he was like, "COME ON PLZ." etc. So I did perform. How insane is that?
Then Saturday I went to a show at Second City solo, and doesn't this girl look like she's stretching out her flirt muscles?
I, on the other hand, moved seats because I was too exposed and needed an audience member to slump behind. #allmysingleladies
Then I did an open-mic. Then I scavenged all of Chicago for chocolate to repair my damaged soul, but everywhere was closed. So I went home and watched MGMT and Pharrell perform at Coachella.
Sunday the arts seminar group went to this Second Story thing, where everyone was awarded a cupcake. We heard a story about a guy who teaches people how to masturbate for a living and I'm serious.
Quick shout-out to paper towel dispensers for coming so far.
And here's a food selfie or whatever it's called on Instagram. This was my lunch at my internship today.
I was starving.
This was Katie. I forgot to tell you at the beginning not to waste your time reading this. Email me at katie@email.com for a full refund on life wasted.
Who thinks Veep was better than Mad Men last night?
Last Friday during core course, we were given a tour of the Bronzeville Neighborhood, home to one of our professors at ACM. It was fascinating to learn about all of the history held within this community. To further explore Bronzeville, I paid a visit to an exhibit in Hyde Park's Art Center called Topographical Depictions of the Bronzeville Renaissance.
The exhibit was created by Samantha Hill, who compiled materials donated from the residents of Bronzeville to form an interactive map installation. Visitors are welcomed to share their own stories which are envoked by the images they see.
The exhibit Topographical Depictions of the Bronzeville Renaissance at The Hyde Park Art Center.
Through the images and stories presented to me on Friday's tour and from this art exhibit I have seen the magnificent changes that have taken place here.
Here are two maps to give you an idea of the location of Bronzeville within the scope of Chicago.
The map on the left shows the city of Chicago with Bronzeville highlighted. The map on the right demonstrates just how large this community is!
Now for a brief history lesson! Bronzeville was known as the "black metropolis," as the area attracted many African Americans to settle during the waves of The Great Migration. Bronzeville attracted a wide array of people; including businessmen, artists, musicians, politicians, and numerous famous historical figures such as Ida B. Wells!
The Bronzeville Renaissance occurred from the 1930's through the 1950's. Below are some images of the exhibit at the Hyde Park Art Center from this era of Bronzeville's history.
The Bronzeville Renaissance coincided with the great era of Jazz...
On our tour of the neighborhood we were taken to an Ace Hardware store. This may seem a peculiar place to visit on a tour, but there is rich Jazz history behind this store's walls. The Ace Hardware store of Bronzeville is the former Sunset Café jazz club which Louis Armstrong was the main act.
Image of the original Sunset Café in the storefront windows of Bronzeville's Ace Hardware.
The Sunset Café's stage backdrop.
All that remains of the jazz history are photographs, and the paintings on the walls which used to be the backdrop for the stage.
On Wednesday April 9th, an internship day, I got to go up onto The Bloomingdale Trail with my supervisor! She was giving a tour to a group of people from an innovative design company called IDEO. The group was there to help brainstorm creative signage that could be used for way-finding, interpretative, and donor signs throughout The 606. I was invited to tag along since I had only ever seen what was going on through blueprints of the design plan for The 606.
The massive blueprints for The Bloomingdale Trail design plans.
Before going up onto the Trail we all met in the field office for the project to see a large map of the project and get our hardhats.
The 606 map.
I was so excited to wear a the gear required to be on a construction site! It made me feel so official...
Me, proudly sporting my hardhat and construction vest.
Here are some images from the tour of The Bloomingdale Trail's construction:
Looking East from on top of The Bloomingdale Trail.
Workers removing the remaining Rail Road Tracks. (Looking West)
Since the railroad trips stopped on the early 2000's, plants slowly reclaimed the industrial site. There are numerous trees all along The Bloomingdale Trial which have been incorporated into the project's landscape plan.
Existing trees on top of The Bloomingdale Trail.
The tour brought us over Humboldt Avenue, which marks the near center of the 2.7 mile long Bloomingdale Trail. The following photographs will provide you with an idea of the "before and after" at The Bloomingdale Trail at Humboldt Avenue.
Before:
The Bloomingdale Trail at Humboldt Avenue (looking West).
After:
Artist rendition of what The Bloomingdale Trail will look like at Humboldt Avenue.
It was such a lovely Spring day to visit The Bloomingdale Trail. I cannot wait to come back later in life to see how far it has come since I saw it under construction! After the tour finished, I spotted the first flower of Spring sprouting from the earth. I thought it was such a perfect symbol for what is to come from The 606; right now it is just dirt, but it will blossom into one of Chicago's most beloved places in the years to come.
Plz watch those. I know people hate watching/reading things other people suggest. But I'm demanding, not suggesting.
Let's see.. I also had coffee at a French place and sushi at Blue Fin. There was time between, so don't accuse me of drinking coffee with sushi. However, the coffee shop was mad on its advertising game. Following the coffee and sushi, I took a full pack of Claritin.
The next morning I had oatmeal, which I've eaten every morning since I was 5. But this time I had it at a place called Tweet, and I met the ACTUAL waitress who wrote the gluten-free menu. You could say my weekend was full of run-ins with fame.
Since chronology was never my thing (my thing has always been sweatpants), let me tell you...my Friday night was amaze. I know how you guys like vagueness so I won't gab about it.
