"Study in Light and Texture: The Civic Opera Building from the Chicago River" is a 50 x 55" pencil drawing on paper. The Chicago River view of the Civic Opera Building thrust its massive Indiana limestone walls upon Mr. Nixon's eyes every time he came into the Loop from the Metra Train Station west of the river. Every time he crossed it, he would tell himself "someone has to graphically capture that incredible field of weathered textures"-- knowing no one but himself would probably ever do it. The drawing is an attempt to honor a simple utilitarian facade that has a very positive effect on Chicago's urban environment. As we build structures with few elements that celebrate or reflect our own humanity, we have grown to appreciate older buildings that relate more to us. This second illustrative masterpiece, begun in 1991, captures the building's textured stone facade as a two-dimensional quilt of tones. This is currently a work in progress ready in September.

Venue & Connection Information