Tunnel Vision by CoreyBlack

Photography • Urban/Cityscape • posted on Apr 25, 2011

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Description

This is the Belmont Avenue subway station on the O' Hare/Blue Line train. As the name implies, this train runs through Chicago between suburban Forest Park and O' Hare airport. Like all underground stations, this one reeks of atmosphere (and other things), as well as the sensation of being buried in a poorly lit bunker. And, in the case of this train line, that sleek 1970s modernist look that, compared to the extravagantly decorated rebuilt stations on the Red and Brown lines, looks almost quaint by comparison. A quaintness further heightened by 35 years of constant use and frequently haphazard maintenance. There's a particularly pungent memory from my gay bar salad days of the 1980s/90s associated with this station. An unfortunate bit of business that involved the following: a close friend, unfamiliar medication, copious alcohol consumption, explosive colo-rectal evacuation, locked bathrooms, the far end of the train platform, and a half empty Dunkin' Donuts take out bag. I'll spare you the gory details, but I'm sure you can connect the dots. As I said, it's a " pungent" memory, and one that still elicits a dark humored cringe between us whenever it gets mentioned. Which it rarely does. Anyway, that memory is frequently flickering in my brain as I move through this station. Something I'm forced to do frequently these days as I take the train to see my cardiologist at Stroger Hospital. It occasionally seems like an absurd thing to be thinking about on my way to a doctor's appointment. About as absurd as the idea of having to see a cardiologist would have been to me back in 1991. Photographed on March 15, 201l.

Comments (14)

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KateBlack10

5:43PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

Corey you had me laughing out my nose! The shot is great - that subway IS Chicago but the narrative almost made tea come out my nose ha!

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Bothellite

5:44PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

That memory has occupied the circuitry of my brain now. Seems we all have something to compare and yes, frankly, it's the stink that lingers. Good luck with your health.

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sandra46

5:59PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

TERRIFIC SHOT I LOVE YOUR VISION!

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flavia49

6:30PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

fabulous shot and terrific story!!

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blinkings

7:16PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

Thanks mate. I was going to ask if it went to the airport!! Such a great idea (take note Australian urban planners)!!!!!!!!! And now that image is burn't on MY BRAIN NOW! HAHA. You might not have believed it but I have been to a few gay bars over the years!! A few of my mates who 'love a good Bette Midler movie' have their parties for this and that at a place called 'Three Faces' in Commercial Road. It's always been a very fun night out! I think it's changed names now, but many of the male patrons who went there would dress up as girls, and they were prettier than most of the girls mate!!!!!!!!!!

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Chipka

7:48PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

I remember that stop and I remember the smell of that stop and though I won't mention a certain person's name, I remember that incident as well as a few other gems that only a particular...um...specimen of...something might be responsible for. And as for this shot: WOW...the place actually looks clean: as if CTA employees actually did some work...at little bit, sort of. I love the colors in this and the way that it almost looks foreign. I mean, I know this subway stop, I've been there long enough to have its smell permanently embedded in my mind. This is a great shot and yeah, I remember those days: I was usually busy hanging out with Betty Page's accidental twin, smoking beadies with a guy affectionately known as "Apple Boy" and deciding whether or not to help with the script for ElvisStein: The Motion Picture and so I missed the...um...urban adventures, but oh well. Wonderful shot.

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NefariousDrO

9:04PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

Very cool photo, I like the stark colors and the perspective. You're right though, the design does really have that claustrophobic "You're underground!" feel that has just a bit unease-inducing mood.

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beachzz

10:12PM | Mon, 25 April 2011

There's something about subways that simply screams all those things you describe. Underground society, weird creatures lurking about (2 and 4 legged both), and yeah, those smells. Love your story; it's got a familiar tune to it!!

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