The Declaration by Chipka
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Description
Just north of the Belmont intersection, Clark Street angles north, though on something of a westerly slant. Just north of Belmont Avenue, numerous elevated train lines converge and run along parallel courses; the elevated and electrified rail lines in question slant across and above Clark street. The Red and Purple lines head due-north. The Brown line makes its way north and west, slanted and curved.
On street level, as trains thunder and clatter overhead, the metal support struts (ancient, by city standards) stand coated in layers of paint. Graffiti marks some of the struts, and municipal efforts to cover that graffiti are often defined by squares and rectangles of brown, graceless paint. The graffiti is often aesthetically pleasing, in comparison to the brown paint covering the scrawls. And on occasion—where Clark Street angles diagonally to its north/south neighbors—urban declarations are made with something other than paint. Paper, glued to lamp posts and el support struts give voice to those who make the city. Paper (something run through a photocopier, from the looks of it) declares on one support strut that a small number of Chicago residents spent time consuming alcohol in the State of Tennessee. One of them, if the paper-drawn declaration is accurate, seems to possess an affinity with Native Americans—plains tribes if the Arapaho/Cheyenne/Dakota-type eagle-feather head-dress is any indication.
I don’t know Sanchez. I don’t know his friends. I don’t know in what part of Tennessee they consumed cheap, ghetto-friendly alcohol, but I know that they went, and perhaps wore feathers on their heads. Maybe not. Maybe they simply found an image that fit the symbolic vibe of what they wished to express, though in all honesty, I have no clue what their declaration might mean on a non-literal level. Is it art? Is it a complex, coded declaration. Perhaps the words mean one thing and the images (now fading) mean something else. It’s hard to say, though I doubt that any substantial thought really went into the creation of the paper-posted declarations I saw on rail-line support struts. I think that as I wandered with Corey, I saw kid’s stuff…something deemed clever by young minds enamored with the ability to create alcohol-based rhymes. Maybe I saw something else far more cryptic and indescribable. At any rate, I saw a declaration and knew to attribute it to Sanchez. What really drew my attention, however, was the dab of red paint. An accident? An afterthought? Something completely different? I may never know, but I’m sure that there might be an interesting story there. And so there it is…the fading words of Sanchez and a dab of red paint.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (16)
MrsRatbag
The literature of the city; I wonder what the whole story would say if it were all gathered in one place? We have places like this here too, scattered in pockets where you'd least expect it; mostly it's to do with concerts by bands with really strange names, but sometimes politics and often just enigmatic statements. It's always engaging to read. Excellent capture of this "chapter" of your city's story!
MagikUnicorn
Great capture my friend
bmac62
Oooo, I read Hennesy and here's what I found: "The Hennessy cognac distillery was founded by Irishman Richard Hennessy in 1765. During the 1970s, Kilian Hennessy, a fifth generation direct descendent of Hennessy, became the CEO of Hennessy. Kilian Hennessy spearheaded the company's 1971 merger with Moët et Chandon, which created Moët Hennessy. Moët Hennessy became part of Louis Vuitton in 1987, creating one of the world's largest luxury brand conglomerates, Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton or LVMH. Kilian Hennessy remained on the company's advisory board until his death in 2010 at the age of 103. The new owner Patrisha J. Hennessy which is related to the Hennessys. The next in line Tyler and Landen her grand sons." Not the sort of cheap alcohol you'd expect in this part of town? :) Fascinating post Chip.
Orinoor
"Salvador Sánchez Narváez (January 26, 1959 - August 12, 1982) was a Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sanchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time." Wikepedia Great photo!
auntietk
Notices like this are such a a part of cities. I don't know these people, am unfamiliar with their favorite bands, have never heard of their political figures, and don't understand what they're talking about most of the time. That was true when I was 20, and it was still true when I was 30, and nothing has changed now that I've passed 50. There's a whole segment of the population with which I seem to have no contact. I love seeing their communications to each other, though. Support posts of freeway overpasses here are a favorite "meeting place" for these pieces of paper. Thanks for sharing this one! It's always a pleasure. :)
durleybeachbum
A very rich and engaging image, and what a lot of details in those comments!
kgb224
Wonderful find and capture my friend.
helanker
THat is a fun and interesting poster and capture of it. And I like the comments too :)
Sea_Dog
Your photography and narration of the urban atmosphere is always enlightening and engrossing, Chip. Your works bring so much context to the images we feel like we're walking the streets with you. Well done.
beachzz
signs like this are almost coded--their meanings known only to a few. that makes them even more interesting, for we can create our own stories. i like the idea of henessee in tennessee--just the rhyme makes sense. as far as sanchez goes, well, he must like it too. another great piece of urban life!!
sandra46
SUPERCOOL, FASCINATING SHOT
flavia49
marvelous shot! great text as usual!
evielouise
wow you started some brains in here working away ,and looking up stuff hubby knows this stuff RE: Sanchez I really don't great information!~~
minos_6
What I particularly like here is the ephemeral nature of what you captured. Already, this piece of work appears to be merging with its host, adopting the colours and even the texture of the strut. Eventually it will no longer be recognisable as anything, but you preserved it at a perfect time. Beautifully captured, and narrated.
Crudelitas
No matter who had made the poster, he thought in any case something! Wow! Now I have learned again a lot of knowledge, both Hennessy and Sanchez about ... Class photo and story!
CoreyBlack
I always love finding these interesting jems of urban art.Even when they're inane or simply mystifying I love the graphic visualness (if that's a word) of them and how they exist, often incongruously, within the rest of their surroundings. And the fact that they're outdoors but aren't selling anything like all the tedious graphic advertising you see everywhere outside. They are like anti-advertising in that way. Anyway, I love this stuff, and this is an especially nice find and capture.