The Union League Club of Chicago History & Archives Subcommittee is pleased to host Chicago architect Ryan Chester to speak about his book, Chicago Reflected. In March 2020, Ryan Chester began drawing the Chicago River for at least one hour every day. Using only a pen, he moved methodically along a single massive roll of paper. As each chaotic, isolating day of the COVID-19 pandemic passed, he stayed connected with his adopted city by carefully documenting by hand the beautiful intricacies of Chicago’s riverfront architecture, boats, and bridges.
As completed, Chester’s two-foot-high, fifty-five-foot-long drawing is a unique vision and is documented in Chicago Reflected on an eleven-foot-long foldout. In addition to dozens of accurately depicted buildings, Chester included pieces of Chicago’s past, including the Union Station Concourse Building that was demolished in 1969 and the immense SS Eastland, which sank in the river in 1915, killing hundreds of people. Recent architecture is featured as well, including Studio Gang’s St. Regis Chicago tower and the Bank of America Tower by Goettsch Partners. An essay by acclaimed writer Thomas Dyja accompanies the publication.
Ryan Chester is a practicing architect in Chicago. He teaches at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Registration and book signing starts at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch and the program at noon. The price is $40 per person inclusive and the ULCC’s reservation policy is in effect. Advance registration is mandatory for this live event, and prepayment must be received by noon on 2/4/2024. No reservations will be accepted or refunded after this time.
Books will be available for purchase.
211 South Clark Street, PO Box 2329, Chicago IL 60604-9997
Tel: +1 (312) 970-1294 info@caxtonclub.org
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