My friend Bob Long, Jr. was to have 10 or 12 of his large scale photo manipulations on display at the East Meets West Art Show at the Murphy Hill Gallery in the Historic Sears and Roebuck Building. The old Sears headquarters is in the Homan Square neighborhood, I guess that would be the west side of Chicago.
Wound up being so many artists and so much art work involved, that only two of Bobs images made it on display.
The rest of his works were stored in a back room and he gave my daughter Leah and I a private showing of the rest of his work.
For me, going to this neighborhood was a bit of a homecoming. I spent my first 11 years growing up about a mile or so away. The streets were familiar even though I hadn’t been down some of them for decades. I also had an aunt that worked in this old Sears complex around 40 years ago and remember her stories about working there and the neighborhood.
When we walked into the gallery, I expected your typical loft gallery of about 5,000 square feet. The gallery takes up one whole floor and is around 40,000 sq. ft. The rooms seemed to go on forever with all walls covered with art work.
Congressman Danny Davis gave an interesting introduction to the show.
Later on that night I got to talk to Ralph Murphy, one of the owners of the gallery. We talked about Bob and his work and his hopes to get Bob to teach some photo classes. The Sears building is supposedly going to be turned into condos and the gallery has to move. They are currently planning on moving to the Bridgeport neighborhood, but into a much smaller space. I suggested he look into opening a satellite gallery out in Aurora. There are a number of buildings right in downtown Aurora that would be perfect for a gallery. I hope to have this conversation with him again.
I was intrigued more by the number of wood sculptures and carvings that were scattered around the rooms.
There were a tremendous amount of paintings, drawings and prints on display, but we didn’t find them as interesting as all the wood carvings.
In another life, I was once heavily involved with all things art in general and with the Chicago art scene in particular. Over the course of 10 years I went to a few hundred gallery openings. Drinks flowed freely at these events and afterward we would go hit an artists bar, punk bar or a dance club. Too many hours were spent discussing art, art history, art historical progressions in art and how that related to the quirkier Chicago art scene. Was in a few group shows and had promises of one man shows. Then one day in 1988, I stopped. Stopped making art, going to shows and never read another thing about art. Like a switch was thrown.
No longer paying attention at that level is much more enjoyable. Now I look at art and either I like it or I don’t. “That’s nice, that’s crap, that’s . . . interesting.” No more art historical references, theories or art historical progression discussions. It’s either good, bad or ugly. Kind of refreshing.
I was tempted to write my daughters name on a tag and place it on the wall above the piece.
As an homage to Bobs’ cityscapes, we took one last photo out in the parking lot.
bob long
10 Apr 2011ab fab of you to come. and bring Leah too. I was honored to see you there. Of course, as one gets older, there are ways of tlaking about art so as not to come off as some snotty-nosed, affected lout. Then again, as one gets older, one manages to speak about all manner of things without sounding as such.
I don’t know how anyone over the age of 50 tolerated me and my inane conversations when i was in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. I guess I was cute.
thanks again
Ken G
10 Apr 2011Now I’m told/asked “are you always so blunt?”
My standard response is “I could be worse.”
With the life clock ticking away, we’re more reluctant to discuss and more inclined to declare and move on. That’s probably what they were doing to us years ago.
Leah had a great time. Wants to go to more shows. I may have created a monster.
You’re still cute, in an old guy kind of way.
Travis
11 Apr 2011WHEN IS THIS OVER KEN AND BOB???? My wife and I wanted to go and we lost track of when what and how, I would of car pooled with you Ken. Let me know how long this is up, seriously. We want to make this.
Hopefully I can run into bob and he’ll me the other works.. Bob.. if you are reading.. in touch please.
Ken G
11 Apr 2011First paragraph, I think. Click on the mention of East Meets West Art Show. That will give you all the details. I should have taken even more pictures. There were a few other things I really liked.
Valerie
12 Apr 2011The show is up until May 20th. Please stop by! The show was my first time officially meeting Bob Long and his photography blew me away.