They Were Expendable by CoreyBlack
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Description
Before the Great American Gentrification of the last 15 years, Chicago, like most big cities, was a bit on the scruffy side. This was especially true during the "white flight" to the suburbs of the 1960's and 70's, that led to the entrenched seediness of the 80's and early 90's. When this picture was made in January, 1988, there were derelict vehicles all over the place: on side streets, in alleys, littering the many vacant lots that later sprouted high rise condominiums. You'd see them sitting in trash strewn public parks looking forlorn amid the graffiti. Many were abandoned, an equal number stolen, vandalized or even set on fire. They were an ubiquitous part of urban life during the period. Those that were still mobile would be towed by the City fairly quickly, otherwise they would sit, frequently for long periods, being slowly stripped of any valuable parts.
This circa 1970 Ford Econoline panel/cargo van was one of the long term residents. It sat in a vacant lot along Lincoln Avenue in the Saint Ben's neighborhood all during the winter of 1987-88, and was finally towed away in late spring after plants had begun to grow out of its radiator grille.
There are a lot of things to be said about this era in Chicago history, both good and bad, but "boring" wouldn't be one of them.
Comments (18)
Chipka
I really like this image a lot and it reminds me of the city I grew up in. I can't say that I miss that city, since White Flight was such a profound reality, as was every other acceptable social malady: every kind of -ism you could think of, and even a few you couldn't. So having said that, I will go on and say that I love the haunting quality of this image and the way that it actually looks like something incredibly moody in that literary sense. It's vaguely apocalyptic as well and if you've read Delany's Dhalgren you'll know what I'm talking about. All-in-all, I really like this shot and the text accompaniment that puts so much in unexpected perspective. Really nice work! Now, if only you had a shot of the planter that the radiator grille had become! I'd pay to see that one, but this is as delicious and moody a shot.
annie5
Very sharp..stunning picture! :)
npauling
A great clear capture of this poor old van. It didn't deserve to be just left out in the cold.....
NefariousDrO
Fascinating photo, I like the strong contrasts, and the fact that the van itself is mostly white with those stark scrapes really works so well. Superb photo!
Bossie_Boots
Superb capture and a good read !!
kgb224
Wonderful photography my friend.
durleybeachbum
We have areas of 'entrenched seediness' in my town too. They can be very photogenic if you don't get your wheels stolen while you take the pics.
auntietk
No wheels, open door, covered in snow. This image speaks volumes. Excellent work!
sandra46
WONDERFUL SHOT A GREAT MOOD IN THIS b/w
flavia49
marvelous!!
beachzz
Where I live, we call these "yard cars". Some houses have several, all in various states of disrepair. The county can't do much about them because, like all counties, there isn't the money to do it. So, there they sit, rusting away, and yeah, growing things!! Great urban shot!!
lior
So stunning!
myrrhluz
Very interesting image and narrative. Poor van, gathering snow on the inside while it melts in dirty rivulets on the outside. It sits helpless to stop being taken apart bit by bit. Great capture.
pauldeleu
A really beautiful image.
Bothellite
And back in the earlier 50's in the west the highways in the deserts and the mountain passes had old rusting occupants that got to be landmarks, signs of progress in travel - that we grew to expect along the way. Eventually the shock came when they were finally removed and Lady Bird Johnson beautified America. Great piece of rememberance - thanks!!
KatesFriend
How sad, just as nature was finally doing the right thing with this forlorn (as in to be forlorn is to have four arms - Kelly Bundy) piece of a once proud civilization, the man takes her toys away - typical. We used to call these things ghost cars. Actually derived from the railway to describe a piece of railway property that is present but no longer used or is ignored.
TomDart
Lady Bird Beautified America and someone might have slept in this old van. This is wonderful memory, well, history not redefined.
anahata.c
man, I love your work. I think your urban shots could be a book. This is a wonderful capture of a truly american urban shot. I mean, I know there are abandoned cars all over the world, but there's something hard & cold & american about this. And, being a Chicagoan, it feels very "chicago," partly because of the snow & cold & that mixed wall of abandoned brick & boarding. (It makes this iconic.) But the open door with the snow draped all over it; and the scratch and peel marks all over the van...it's a bleak scene, dramatically "cut into" by a van, which seems to have driven into the shot, opened up---by itself (a ghost van)---and revealed decay, loss and nothingness inside. A fine wheel contour too, with no front wheel underneath; and you gave us a peek into the interior, which is positively deathly---the highlight of the shot, in a way, with all that snow on the window, casting grainy darkness over what was once a living place for its owners. And yet this shot has real poetry & grit. Great work, Corey. I didn't intend to do all b&w's in my first return to your gallery, but I've had these comments pent up for an eon, and frankly I couldn't contain them anymore. Great work. These shots make me feel grateful for eyes like yours.