Abigail Zoe Martin Chicago Lights, an audio/visual show celebrating 81 Chicagoans
I arrived with my family in Chicago in 2015 and it was during that year that the concept of Chicago Lights was born (see Chicago Lights the Background for how it all began). Here you can see the 81 people featured in my show. They are a wide-ranging and impressive group of characters who contribute to the immense diversity, richness and originality of Chicago’s landscape. As I photographed each person in a place of their choosing, I also interviewed them, with the aim of finding out more about Chicagoans in order to discover the common thread that links us all.
Some of the many topics covered in these raw, authentic and extremely honest interviews include love, mothering, body issues, politics, gender, food, relationships, poverty, spirituality and everything in between. I edited these interviews down to one minute sound bites for the show, which you can hear by pressing the play button that shows up on each image as you click on it. There is a small time lag of 4 seconds so please be patient. More sound excerpts can be heard here on soundcloud.
X
Sarah Raskey
Sarah Raskey, Artist, Art Therapist, Psychotherapist and Co-Founder of Open Avenue Therapy. /
Sarah Raskey Fine Art Gallery, West Loop
X
Duchess Darling Shear
Duchess Darling Shear, Cabaret Star, Choreographer, Stylist and Healer /
Photographer's Studio, Bucktown
X
Jesse White
Jesse White, Secretary of State /
In his office at 160 North La Salle Street
X
Jo Jo Baby
Jo Jo Baby, Performance artist, puppet maker and collector. /
At his studio in the Flat Iron Arts Building.
X
Anthony Moseley
Anthony Moseley, Artistic Director of theatre group Collaboraction, Writer and Director. /
Flat Iron Arts Building, Wicker park
X
Amee Binder
Amee Binder, Showgirl, Choreographer of the Underground Vaudettes, Host of “Late Night Binder” on Can TV. /
Uptown Underground, Uptown
X
Zhou Brothers
Zhou Brothers, World Renowned Contemporary Artists /
Bridgeport Art Studio
X
Jaime Laurita
Jaime Laurita, Celebrity Chef, Designer, Author, Creative director and TV Host /
Pride Festival, Wrigleyville
X
Curtis Duffy
Curtis Duffy, 3 Star Chef the Michelin Guide /
Chicago Fitness Center, Lincoln Avenue
X
Kathleen Henson
Kathleen Henson, Founder and CEO of Agency H5, a public relations and marketing firm /
Wells Street Bridge, Chicago
X
Candace Jordan
Candace Jordan, Media Personality, Chicago Tribune Social Columnist, ex Playboy centerfold and charity fundraiser. /
Foyer of her building, Gold Coast
X
Laura Mae Noble
Laura Mae Noble, Biophilic Artist, planting and terrarium designer, Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Pet Rat Owner. /
At her studio in Bucktown
X
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson, Bartender /
Logan Square
X
Jules Mauro
Jules Mauro, Manager Lush Flagship Store, Michigan Avenue /
in her garden, Lakeview
X
Eli Wilson
Eli Wilson, Saxophonist, Band Leader, Composer /
Warehaus West, Humbolt Park
X
Kara Bachman
Kara Bachman, Sports Commissioner of Chicago /
Athletic Association, Michigan Avenue
X
Father Pfleger
Father Pfleger, Roman Catholic Priest and Social Activist, St Sabina Church /
St Sabina Church, W78th Street, South Side
X
Kiara Lanier
Kiara Lanier, Vocal Performance Artist and Actress /
Garfield Park Conservatory, West Side
X
Juliana Stratton
Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois /
Chicago Cultural Center
X
Matt Flanagan
Matt Flanagan, Lieutenant on the Chicago Fire Department /
Engines 42’s Quarters at 55 W Illinois, River North
X
Beverly Tarr
Beverly Tarr, Founder, Certified Divorce Mediation, LLC, international divorce, family and Global mediator /
LLC Offices, Downtown Chicago
X
Carina Shero
Carina Shero, Founder Femme FATales, a plus size burlesque group /
At home, Lakeview
X
Essence Walker
Essence Walker, Co-Founder of The Femme FATales, a plus size burlesque group and artist /
At home, Lakeview
X
Tarrah Cooper
Tarrah Cooper, CEO Rise Strategy Group and Board Chair, Breakthrough /
Breakthrough, West Side
X
Joe George
Joe George, Musician, Song Writer, Composer, Co Host of The Red Room /
The Red Room, Bucktown
X
Susan A. Lipshutz, LCSW
Susan A. Lipshutz, LCSW, Integrative Psychotherapist /
Primitive Gallery, West Loop
X
Jason Chan
Jason Chan, Restaurateur, Martial Arts Teacher and survivor of Stage IV throat cancer. /
Arts Institute, Michigan Avenue
X
Trisha Rooney
Trisha Rooney, Founder of R4, Entrepreneur, industry leader and Philanthropist /
Paper Shredding Dept, R4 Headquarters
X
Monica Eng
Monica Eng, WBEZ Reporter, Chewing Podcast Co-Host and Investigative Journalist. /
Chi Quon Bakery, Chinatown
X
Glen Joffe and Claudia Morgan
Glen Joffe and Claudia Morgan, Co-Owners, Primitive Gallery /
Primitive Gallery, West Loop
X
Jennifer Reeder
Jennifer Reeder, Award Winning film maker, Writer and Moving Image Professor at the University of Illinois /
University of Illinois
X
Mary Carter
Mary Carter, USA Today Best Selling Novelist and Owner of the Writers Loft /
The Writers Loft, Downtown Chicago
X
Ken Bennett
Ken Bennett, Political Strategist /
Josephine's Cooking, E79th Street, Chicago
X
Daniel Kyri
Daniel Kyri, Actor, Filmmaker, Director, Co-Writer and Co-star of the web series “The T”. /
At home, Pilsen
X
Ben Mackey
Ben Mackey, Lead Singer, Faux Co. /
Photographed at his home in Logan Square
X
Jessica Egan
Jessica Egan, Potter and Owner of Little Fire Ceramics /
Pottery Studio, Logan Square
X
Liz Dozier
Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond and Former High School Principal /
At W112th Street, on the porch of her favorite former pupil Jason Barrett, who was killed in March 2017.
X
Israel Idonije
Israel Idonije, Ex NFL elite athlete and founder of IF Charities /
Soldier Fields
X
Darra
Darra, Executive Director, The Insight Project for Kids /
Oak Street Beach
X
Kirsten Stickney
Kirsten Stickney, Sports Photographer /
Lincoln Park
X
Mark McGreevy
Mark McGreevy, OBE, Founder, The Institute of Global Homelessness /
De Paul University
X
Don Gibson
Don Gibson, Songwriter, Musician /
Logan Square
X
Arloa Sutter
Arloa Sutter, Founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough, a nonprofit on the West Side /
East Garfield Park
X
Jennica Owens
Jennica Owens, Hairdresser /
The 606 Bloomingdale Trail, Wicker Park
X
Nora Flanagan
Nora Flanagan, High School English Teacher, Roller Derby Teacher, Book Enthusiast /
Northside College Prep High School, North Park
X
Christopher Keogh
Christopher Keogh, Partner, Goldman Sachs /
At home, Lakeshore Drive
X
Sophia Kravets
Sophia Kravets, Advertising Campaign assistant /
Art Institute
X
Bea Cordelia
Bea Cordelia, Poet, Writer, Filmmaker, Performance Artist, Actor, Producer, Educator and Activist /
Banks of the North Branch Chicago River
X
Erika Orr
Erika Orr, Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. /
Garfield Park Conservatory
X
Anadil Johnson
Anadil Johnson, Fashion Entrepreneur and Founder and Designer of Neval /
At home, Gold Coast
X
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Mayor Rahm Emanuel /
Press Office, City Hall, Chicago
X
Jeanne Malnati
Jeanne Malnati, CEO and Founder of The Culture Group and Spreading Hearts /
At home, Downtown Chicago
X
Aymar Jean Christian
Aymar Jean Christian, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University and Founder of Open Television /
At home in Lakeview
X
Kyle Sanders
Kyle Sanders, Program Assistant, International Development, Northwestern University /
Music Box Theater, Wrigleyville
X
Theri Raby, MD
Theri Raby, MD, Founder and Director of the Raby Institute of Integrative Medicine /
Raby Institute, Michigan Avenue
X
Giordano Dance Company
Dancers, Giordano Dance Company /
Dance Studios, South Loop, Chicago
X
Nan Giordano
Nan Giordano, Artistic Director, Giordano Dance Company /
Dance Studios, South Loop
X
Giordano Dance Company
Giordano Dance Company Dancers /
Dance Studios, South Loop
X
Joon Lee
Joon Lee, Fashion Client Advisor /
Jay Pritzker Pavillion, Millenium Park
X
Izabel Olson
Izabel Olson (shown center), Founder of Salt and Light /
Humboldt Park Studio
X
C M Punk
C M Punk (with Larry the dog), Ex Champion Professional, Wrestler, Mixed Martial Artist, Comic Book Writer /
At his home Gym in Wicker Park
X
Lauren F Streicher, MD
Lauren F Streicher, MD, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology /
Macy's Department Store
X
Steven Dyme
Steven Dyme, Co-Founder and CEO of Flowers for Dreams /
Flowers for Dreams Headquarters, West Hubbard St, West Town
X
Chrissy Stephens
Chrissy Stephens, Model and Writer /
Lincoln Park
X
Bianca Smith
Bianca Smith, Copy Writer and Brand Strategist /
Grant Park
X
Anna Valencia
Anna Valencia, City Clerk /
City Hall, Chicago
X
Madison Mattox
Madison Mattox, Barista and Student /
Humboldt Park
X
Bruno Abate
Bruno Abate, Chef and Founder of Recipe for Change (seen Center) /
Cook County Jail
X
Tiffany Woodward
Tiffany Woodward, Manager Lush, Vegan, Environmentalist, Keen Cyclist /
Lincoln Park Conservatory
X
Ivana Taylor
Ivana Taylor, Management Consultant, Entrepreneur, Novelist /
Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago, Hyde park
X
Brian Cole
Brian Cole, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Specialist Sports Medicine /
Rush Hospital
X
Naaman Gambill
Naaman Gambill, Urban Bee Keeper, Co Owner of The Hive /
North Elston Avenue
X
Thomas Kerwin
Thomas Kerwin, Founder BKL Architecture /
In front of the Renelle Building, Michigan Avenue Bridge
X
Curt Bailey
Curt Bailey, President Related Midwest /
The 78, Chicago
X
Jason Brett
Jason Brett, Writer, Producer, Entrepreneur and keen aviator /
Chicago Executive Airport, Wheeling, Illinois
X
Tim Kazurinsky
Tim Kazurinsky, Former Star of SNL, Actor, Writer, Director /
Second City, Chicago
X
Victor Saad
Victor Saad, Founder of Experience Institute, Lecturer at Stanford /
Noble Square
X
Astera Manis
Astera Manis, Reiki Energy Healer /
Cloud Gate
X
Bela Gandhi
Bela Gandhi, Founder, Smart Dating Academy /
Lincoln Park
X
Erika Allen
Erika Allen, Co-Founder Urban Growers Collective /
E89th Street, Clara Schafer Park.