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Painter Emmett Kerrigan examines the world most of use pass by everyday without taking notice. In this interview with Linda Warren, she explains how we are drawn to the layers Kerrigan creates on his drives, but the abandoned steel mills, smoke stacks and railroad tracks along Cline Avenue.
Emmett Karrigan's Multiple Layers of Northwest Indiana
truthfulenthusiasm.wordpress.com - 3 weeks ago - 206 views
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Kline Avenue to Inland Steel was always one of my favorite drives chasing smokestacks in the Indina "region" of the 1980's. Distasteful as you might imagine for an environmentalist, my travels took me in to the coke batteries, steel mills & chemical processing plans where standard issue may have included a hard hat, safety glasses & a breathing apparatus mask for good measure. Republic Engineered Steel's glowing furnace flames exuded a certain charm only if you forgot, for a moment, the environmental consequence.
I have those same feelings when I look at Emmett Kerrigan's work. But, his perspective makes me admire the beauty of the legacy those dormant giants left behind.
Gone, but not forgotten, TruthEnthusiast!
Driving east on the Chicago Skyway still reminds me of all the industry once visible from the elevated perch: the brewery; Acme's Coke Battery; LTV; Republic Engineered Steel; Lever Brothers & Hercules.
Dan Ramirez is another artist who has been inspired by the glow of the steel mills. In his works at McCormick Place West, he took his inspiration from Nelson Algren's Chicago: City on the Make. Here are some images from that series. If you ever have a chance to go see the artwork at McCormick Place West, its a real treat of the region seen by the artists that inhabit it.
http://web.mac.com/danramirez/danramirez.net/Media/slideshow.html?backgr...
The amount of paint on his work really is amazing. I had no idea until the close up and you can actually see the physical depth of the work.
The Paint is so layered in each of the pieces you are drawn in. If you have anytime, you should stop by and see them first hand which will be more amazing than my little camera can capture. And the best part, its free.
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