Adolfo Santos Photo

France 2002

2011-07-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Paris Gargoyles

Underneath the Eiffel Tower

Saints on Notre Dame

Versailles - West Facade (lucky to catch it at sunset)

Versailles looking West (these gardens prove this man meant business)

Versaille - Fountain of the Sun King (again Louis XIV proving a point)

Arles - Roman Amphitheater (they don't build 'em like this any more)

Cote du Rhone - A Monastery I think (see the crosses on the parapet from where you can shoot arrows. Talk about preaching the Word!)

Cote du Rhone - Church Interior

Mountaintop picnic complete with mountaintop experience. Sigh ....

Going to the Chapel

2010-12-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

In October of last year I finished a painting of the Chicago L. Go to my art blog to read more about it. The painting is a one point perspective of a long run of the Chicago elevated train tracks in the Uptown Neighborhood. The structure and the tracks overhead form three bays like three naves of a church. So I thought, "Hey! It would be natural to paint an actual church." So I went hunting. There are many great churches in Chicago. Big massive mounds of acrobatic stone. I loved the gothic feel of the Chicago L so I looked for gothic. On the corner of Catalpa and Broadway there stands Saint Ita. The church above. The interior has three naves with spindly gothic columns that remind me of the Chicago L steel. Amazing the parallels in the things we build. Both sacred and profane.

Yet I wasn't so sold on doing the painting of Saint Ita. Hanging out at the Glenwood, I was chatting about my new project and my indecision. My new friend piped up and suggested in a muse-like manner that I paint the Jesus Saves sign hanging on the Philadelphia Church in the Andersonville Neighborhood, pictured below. I was immediately inspired. I know the message behind "Jesus Saves" all too well. And that sign has a life of it's own. It is a voice crying out in the wilderness with its bright neon. For a group of people who know me, I am a prodigal son. Some one who was lost, then found, then lost again. Friends have also posted pics of this on Facebook. Hmm, is god trying to tell me something? Personally, it is all about always finding that makes one never lost. Religious debate aside, the idea resonated with me.

Both these photos are study photos for the paintings. I liked them enough to post them here. And if you want to buy a copy, give me a ring. Stay tuned as I get off my arse and put brush to canvas.

More Pics from the City

2009-12-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here are more shots of my beloved City Chicago taken a few months ago. However, the City does push the limits of that love with the recent 20 F below windchill. Brrr ...

Other than being cold, however, this is a City of great architecture and great neighborhoods. Tasty food, noisy and for-the-most-part-convenient buses and trains. It has a big Lake, a resilient character about it. And it inspires me. Also it's not threatened by rising sea levels. But there are those Asian carp ...

This is a window washer on the towering Uptown Bank in the heart of Uptown. I posted a color version of this before but toyed around with black and white. I just love the fact that this man is literally dangling by a thread on this cliff of a building. I mean, who really does this any more?

This is shot of the L in Wrigleyville in October of this year. For you out of towners, Wrigleyville is a posh and highly "desirable" niche of land on the Northside of Chicago. Look at the swanky townhouse with the oval window on the right ...

From the back of the bus. I love not owning a car.

Extravaganza in Andersonville!

2009-09-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Just another night of color, lights, song and show at Cattle Call. These snapshots were taken at last week's Wednesday night show. Angelique, Mistress of Ceremonies, was sadly ailing that night. I love this weekly one moment in time for so many reasons, I can not even begin to tell you ...

Bianca

Regina

Sebastian

Ashley

Heels

Pls Check Out My Friends

2009-09-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously! Look at the LINKS on this blog and see the magnificence that is around you.

Black and Whites of Chicago, July and August 2009

2009-08-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

I posted a color version of this one earlier and thought it would be nice in black and white.

Chicago L Stop Sedgwick

Brick

Sculpture

Live Forever - The Michael Jackson Monument Design Competition

2009-08-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

See my entry here ...

Chicago: Recent Pics

2009-08-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Above: a hazy day in Edgewater from the Lakefront.

Saxophone: I've been hearing this guy for years now as I get on the Brown line to get home. And for some reason whenever I heard him he makes me think of Styx. He let me take a few shots of him while he played his instrument.

Jackson Memorial

2009-08-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Took this with my cell. Last night I was waiting for a friend under the Chicago Red Line - Howard stop and found this memorial to Michael Jackson. It's pasted on a stop light post underneath the train overpass. It caught me by surprise and seemed a warm touch within the busy night-time hard and traffic of the place.

I Li

2009-08-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

I've always loved this picture of my friend I-Li. He was marching in Chicago's Gay Pride Parade mid-1990's. He saw me on the side lines and and he invited me to join him. Which I happily did. I shortly stepped out of the pride-stream to snap this picture.

I-Li and I have known each other since college 1987-88 or so. And he has always been a leader for me not in the General Napolean, scout, or even train engine kind of way but more as a sign post at a cross roads that point in a couple or several directions. And whenever I hear or see him, I think "You go ..." I-Li loves flowers by the way and he is passionate about gay-asian pride issues. Visit i2i and find out what he's been up to.

The "L"

2009-06-22T23:32:00.001-07:00

"L" stands for elevated. Not having a car, I rely on this bit of infrastructure. I know other cities have their web of systems. In Chicago, all tracks lead to Downtown. Seems hierarchical to me. But love/need it nonetheless. This photo was taken after a late night of work waiting for the Red Line at the NEW Fullterton Stop. The people are standing under electric heaters. Kind of like a toaster oven. It was cold! Some minus below or something or other ...

The one below is taken where the Brown Line crosses over Halsted ...

Far north stop on the Red Line. Heaters still going ...

The newly renovated Lake Street Subway Stop ...

Edgewater - Chicago, May 2009

2009-06-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken at Foster Beach on the northern lake shore of Chicago. The first time I saw it, mid 1990's or so, it was in much worse shape and the sky was a dark pewter with winds and the beginnings of rain. Lake Michigan threatened me with choppy waves. But through it all, this breakwater stood stalwart. It seemed to possess a soul, a sturdy one at that. On one side of the concrete pier, the waves wrecked their havoc and the other side was a relative calm. And in the middle of it all this thing stood. It filled me with hope and resolute strength.

Beautiful tile below Lake Shore Drive on Bryn Mawr ...

Clouds over Lake Michigan.

Watch out for that last step ...

Live Play Art: June 24, 2009, 6-8 pm

2009-06-22T09:30:00.001-07:00

Live Play Art, an art show hosted by Bridgeview Bank in Andersenville. I am showing with 2 other artists. Details below:

Live Play Art
June 24, 2009, 6-8 pm
Bridgeview Bank - Andersonville
5117 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640
Call 773.989.2893 for more info
http://www.bridgeviewbank.com/

Hope you can make it. And please visit the links to view the work of friends. Cheers!

Welcome to Adolfo Santos Photo

2009-06-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hi there. Welcome to the blog. You can also find me at Adolfo Santos Art and High Place.

The photo below was taken in early June. The Uptown Bank Building (now the Bridgeview Bank) is located at Lawrence and Broadway in Uptown. A great piece of beaux art architecture that towers over the rest. They don't build 'em like that anymore. Uptown was my home for about 8 years. It's got rich history of decadence. I loved living there! missing it now for it's convenience and and it's unique urban mix. I hear a huge Target is opening just down the street. We'll see what happens when it does. I felt lucky to be able to see this window washer do his thing, like the Bugs Bunny cartoons I grew up on.