Chicago Graffiti

Graffiti art, a tradition which dates back to the Stone Age, has been found in ancient Roman ruins, in the remains of the Mayan city of Tikal in Central America, on rocks in Spain dating to the 16th century, and in medieval English churches. It is an art form unique to large urban areas and part of the fabric of cities from New York to Berlin, and of course, Chicago. Some might consider it an eyesore, or question whether it's really art, but it's hard to argue the talent on display in many of the works.

Although uninvited and unauthorized graffiti is vandalism, scars the community, hurts property, and is seen as urban decay, local street art is often perceived as a sign of a neighborhood's hip quotient, can act as the true voice of a community and often reflects triumphs, turbulence, or obstacles that are unique to a specific place and time. They tell a cultural story about the transition of the neighborhood and its current gentrification clashes. Exploring this type of art is also one of the most vivid ways to understand the dialogue of what's happening in a community.

Street Art is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested and reviled by many authorities while also subject to protection, sometimes within the same jurisdiction. Of course art is largely in the eye of the beholder, but some of the quality we see on a spray-can-painted wall is top-notch. The artist do some amazing work - incredibly detailed, whimsical and colorful pieces, really beautiful and interesting works of art.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

Order your "Chicago Graffiti"   Print at     Fine Art America
or directly from: CT-Graphics.com
Fine Art quality Photo canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters and greeting cards - Image Customization - Old or Damaged or Polaroid Photo Restoration - Conversion of Slides and Paper Pictures to Digital (CD/DVD)

Photography lovers who liked this also liked:

alligators art
alligators canvas prints
alligators framed prints
alligators acrylic prints
alligators metal prints
alligators prints
alligators posters
alligators greeting cards
alligators photos

beasts art
beasts canvas prints
beasts framed prints
beasts acrylic prints
beasts metal prints
beasts prints
beasts posters
beasts greeting cards
beasts photos

crocodiles art
crocodiles canvas prints
crocodiles framed prints
crocodiles acrylic prints
crocodiles prints
crocodiles posters
crocodiles greeting cards
crocodiles photos

Chicago Fourth Presbyterian Church

The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago was formed in February 1871 by the merger of Westminster Presbyterian Church and North Presbyterian Church. The combined congregation dedicated to build a church building on Pine Street (now upper Michigan Avenue), which was then a fairly undeveloped part of the city. The congregation employed architect Ralph Adams Cram to build them a Gothic Revival building. Cram, who also designed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, was at work on both churches at the same time during 1912. Only Fourth Presbyterian was completed, however, and was dedicated in 1914.

Cram designed and built the church for Fourth Presbyterian's congregation, but the parish house, cloister, manse, and garth were designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw.The church building is the oldest structure on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, with the exception of the Chicago Water Tower, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The church is all around wonderful whether you are looking for a place to attend a service, join a community, volunteer, admire architecture, enjoy musical concerts or get married. The ministers are progressive and open-minded and write thoughtful sermons. I highly recommend attending a Sunday service to hear the organ (and the Tower Brass every 3rd Sunday of the month) or attend one of the Friday noonday concerts which occur every Friday at noon and typically feature jazz music.
The Fourth Pres. community is a prime example for being what Christianity should be: progressive, tolerant, open-minded, enlightened and a force for communal good.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

Order your "Chicago Fourth Presbyterian Church"   Print at     Fine Art America
or directly from: CT-Graphics.com
Fine Art quality Photo canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters and greeting cards - Image Customization - Old or Damaged or Polaroid Photo Restoration - Conversion of Slides and Paper Pictures to Digital (CD/DVD)

Photography lovers who liked this also liked:

gators art
gators canvas prints
gators framed prints
gators acrylic prints
gators metal prints
gators prints
gators posters
gators greeting cards
gators photos

lizards art
lizards canvas prints
lizards framed prints
lizards acrylic prints
lizards metal prints
lizards prints
lizards posters
lizards greeting cards
lizards photos

florida art
florida canvas prints
florida framed prints
florida acrylic prints
florida prints
florida posters
florida greeting cards
florida photos