Students by Chipka
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Description
It was a brisk day: not exactly Spring, but no longer Winter. Chicago has many days like that—when the sky is brilliant and blue, leavened with cotton-breath clouds and contrails. Cars make their ways along one traffic-clogged avenue or another. Sometimes their windows are open. Sometimes you’ll hear music: something popular, something inane, but enough to pass the time while driving, while riding, while spending long moments between destinations too far for you to walk.
On days that exist in periods of seasonal ambiguity, the city takes on strange and furtive life. Michigan Avenue—always crowded with tourists and students—is always the first of the city streets to spring into liminal, twilight life. Buds erupt from naked, spindly branches as pale, green shoots nudge their tips through winter-dampened loam. Whole flocks of students from the School of the Art Institute, Columbia College, or Roosevelt University hover in gaggles and clumps, smoking cigarettes or negotiating with wind and wrapped pieces of artwork. Homeless street vendors sell copies of Streetwise magazine and tell jokes intended to cajole others into “donating” a dollar in exchange news and entertainment columns.
It is always the students who draw me. I recognize them: if not as individuals, at least as a breed. There was a time when I was one of them—drinking tea in Grant Park between classes, or meandering through the convolutions of downtown streets with now-vanished friends in search of a good spot to eat: Excheqer Pub, or that Greek place that always made the perfect gyros. The pub is still there, the Greek place has moved around the corner, but it still serves the perfect gyros, and the owner still recognizes me. He is older. I am older, but on occasion, I still get a free order of fries.
As I walked (as is common) with Corey, through the downtown core of the city, I passed Art Institute students. I recognized them: not as individuals (I’ve never met them, and I don’t know their names) but they were familiar nonetheless. I knew that they were simply taking a break on what was supposed to be a day off. Art students keep irregular schedules: days off come when they come. They cannot be planned. And though it was Sunday; though Michigan Avenue was filled with strolling cameras attached to tourists (and a duo of urban-ninja photographers) were undoubtedly at work on some project. I saw them at the end of a cigarette break, and knew that somewhere—down below the Art Institute proper—there were rooms filled with charcoal-scribblers and painters and nude models changing their poses every fifteen minutes. I remember many a nude model, particularly a quirky, rubenesque young woman with a penchant for wearing a Superman bra. I didn’t even know they made those, until the day I saw her take it off and assume her languid, Classic pose. It was her thing—a small contrivance to break tension and put nervous neophyte painters at ease. She was known as the Girl with the Kryptonite Titties. Everybody liked her. I learned of her, because I was interested in one of the nervous, neophyte painters: a handsome and scruffy young buck with the unfortunate habit of wearing chest-obscuring shirts.
As I walked with Corey, I remembered the scruffy art-guy and the Girl with the Kryptonite Titties, and I wondered at the story behind these two students. I watched them for a moment, struck by the girl’s snow white hair, and the way the guy reminded me (for his lanky build) of an exchange student from Ükür. I also felt old, because back in my college-student days, socks were not a part of one’s visible ensemble, and so we never wore pants cut short enough to reveal them. But as the law of Sartorial Nature dictates, Socks are in this year, as is snow-white hair on girls young enough to be someone’s daughter.
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As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting.
Comments (27)
LovelyPoetess
Nice postwork on this shot, I like the slightly grungy feel it has. The building does bring back memories, it's been a while since I've been on the inside of it. : )
sharky_
I like the candid shot. Excellent. Aloha
auntietk
Both times I stood just there, the place was closed. NEXT time I come! The Art Institute. LOL!
faroutsider
Like the LovelyPoetess, I was immediately struck by the postwork. Then I read your text and was shaken by a wave of nostalgia - about my student days, and days teaching students... and the timelessness of being a student of life. Great shot, great writing.
zulaan
As the studies are far away ... Very beautiful image and always this unique atmosphere signed Shipka. Good day.
beachzz
I knew where this was right away, we walked past those steps and were SO bummed it was closed. I love the foto, it is a classic look outside any higher learning institution. And the girl with the Kryptonite Titties---she's very familiar. In fact, so familiar that when I look in the mirror, I almost see her. I used to do that same thing, and had my own ways of trying to put them at ease. No Superman bra, but wow, I would have loved to have had one! Great shot and yeah, I'm with Tara--I HAVE to see this place!!
helanker
HA! You can indeed tell a story worth reading. Awesome shot too.
minos_6
I know when I've read something good when I'm left wanting more. Where is the Girl with the Kryptonite Titties now? And more importantly, what about the "handsome and scruffy young buck with the unfortunate habit of wearing chest-obscuring shirts"? (Love that phrase by the way!) If I ever have the opportunity to visit Chicago, I know my expectations will be coloured by your photography....
babuci
Wonderful sepia tone and a texture of the stone base came out so great.
ledwolorz
Beautiful work.
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
durleybeachbum
Art students! The great thing about being one in England is, and always has been, that all ones sartorial effort is spent on NOT looking like anyone else in your college. I have 3 such kids in my house at present and they are all so very different in the way they dress. That is what unites them as being art students! And, of course, as this grandma was, indeed in a way still is, one herself, I have never quite shaken off this basic need to be unique in the way I dress, although this has lead to a certain amount of disapproval from ladies my age who don't actually know me. So WHAT! I just love your pic, but I would have thought them computer science students.
whaleman
Despite being in Chicago, this scene (with your work) has an old European visage for me, though I've never been there.
jmb007
bonne photo!!
Meisiekind
What a joyful affair - your writing and the wonderful image! I always walk away from viewing your posts feeling better than I did before I opened it! Excellent dear Chip! :)
MrsLubner
I love the postwork. The feeling of interaction is here and very real.
MrsRatbag
I so miss being a student; you bring back memories and longing with this great shot and little essay!
romanceworks
Just loved your description of this, your walk though Chicago and memories. And what a great photo. I do believe I will be an 'art student' all my life. At least in my heart if not in my body. But always in my dress. Superman bras ... who knew? CC
nikolais
stunning walkalogue, Chip!
flavia49
magnificent!
sandra46
superlative image!great description!
MagikUnicorn
Love this one shot mean a lot od word for me :) Good weekend
jocko500
young people will be old people one day . here I see young doing what they do in life. wonderful shot
watapki66
Excellent
bmac62
Hmmmmm. I walked...er, excuse me was driven by there in my own car by a fellow photographer (Roger from St. Louis who also used to be a student over at the Univ of Illinois, Chicago). Knowing what I saw that day to include plenty of tourists and students, your postwork is way cool. And like Nikolay, I have enjoyed walking with you and Corey for a bit tonight. Your descriptions bring this entire area back to life for me. Well done my friend:)
EBSPhotographic
Damn, the Art Institute is all over; there's one here in Philly too. Nice composition, makes one think what the two of them could be speaking about. And as always, you're stylized post work kicks a__ and really adds to the mood. Well done!
jac204
By the young man's fashion it looks like white socks might be taboo again. Better keep mine hidden.