Since the publication of my first limited edition suite on Chicago in 1983, a vast number of changes have continued to evolve the greatest city in America. As understated as it may seem, these changes have been significant.

The rush to build new high-rises continued through the 80's and culminated in the face-lifting of Michigan Avenue into one of the most glamorous shopping districts in the world. New hotels, weatherproof malls and stores touting familiar products in their own spaces, have kept Chicago in the forefront of the army of shoppers' choices.

In the past eleven years, our sport teams have delivered excitement on a regular basis. The Cubs actually came close twice, as did the White Sox. The Bears won it all in '85 and the Bulls delivered championship status to Chicago three times with his Airness (Michael Jordan) leading the way. The Blackhawks made it to the finals of the Stanley Cup while setting a record twelve straight wins to do it. They were knocked out by another team winning thirteen straight.

Soldier Field is still with us undomed, the Gray Lady of Madison Street is about to leave us permanently as the new United Center opened in '94 right across the street. Wrigley Field will always be here, but we said good-bye to Comiskey Park, the oldest ballpark in the majors. New Comiskey Park is with us, and owned by us now.

Probably the most significant change that took place in the past eleven years was the election of the city's first minority mayor. He presented Chicago with ethnic changes in local government that can still be felt today. A greater degree of tolerance, understanding and enlightenment was experienced by many citizens of this great city.

Many of Chicago's neighborhoods that are on the fringes of the inner city were on the verge of decay, but have been reclaimed by young families and professionals seeking to make a place for themselves. Health clubs have sprouted everywhere, and Italian cuisine is still number one. Our legendary style of baking pizza is now exported.

Chicago has more parades and festivals than anyone else. We are rebuilding Navy Pier to become a showcase for summer entertainment to compliment what has already been developed at Grant Park. Nobody uses fireworks as often as we do in an effort to celebrate everything from the Fourth of July to the New Year.

Chicago is so well known around the world that a painting I created in 1985 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field produced as a poster has been spotted in such unlikely places as Moscow, Hong Kong and Sydney.

A Chicago entrepreneur opened Chicago-style pizza parlors in Great Britain, Ireland and France to the delight of millions of their citizens and a few weary American travelers. I'll always savor the pizza I had in Dublin. There's only so much fish and dark beer you can consume in a week.

Chicago is much like a university. It has a very dedicated alumni. People grow up here and move on, or they spend a good deal of time in our zip codes before moving to new cities. Either way Chicago becomes their kind of town. Their zeal is occasionally rewarded with victories by the home teams in athletics, or the often mentioned Pulitzer or Nobel prizes awarded to the intellectuals produced by this community of big shoulders.

There are pubs and restaurants from New York to Atlanta to Los Angeles and back again that have the name "Chicago" in their titles. The name has always meant "welcome" to all. While gangsters gave Chicago early notoriety, it was the people of this city that have rise to the new ideal which is "the city that works."

Whenever I travel abroad I am naturally asked about my home. When I mention Chicago, I am immediately greeted with a big smile and comments about our sports teams, or their favorite uncle who now lives in Chicago. In fact, when I was in Moscow a few years ago, I brought some items for trading from our fair city. I was able to swap two Cubs T-shirts for a Soviet Officer's uniform hat. It's one of the focal points of my hat collection.

My new paintings span over six years due largely to continued work on other subjects. Most noteworthy of those is "America's Baseball Temples" which is a series of watercolors on all of the ballparks in the majors.

In this book on Chicago, I have chosen to illustrate some of the familiar landscapes in a somber wintry setting while adding a touch of levity to the Board of Trade scene. The view of the Chicago River from the Lasalle Street bridge offers a canyonesque look in the late summer afternoon sun. It is this same sun that warms the faces of the Marist High School marching band on Columbus Day.

Two of the biggest topics in Chicago sports are represented here in the Bulls and the new Comiskey Park. I've selected two different park scenes for this volume along with a neighborhood event "Swedish Fest." The final chapter is about the soul of the city as I traveled to a church on the south side for Sunday service.

I hope you enjoy viewing my new watercolors and reading about the events and places portrayed. Best wishes to you all.

Brad Bennett

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE
About Chicago Gifts | Online Gift Store | Related Links | Contact Us