20 May publication of garrick theater salvage book top priority for 2018

sorting through and processing boxes of carefully cataloged richard nickel contact sheets documenting the life and death of adler & sullivan’s schiller building (later known as the garrick theater) has resurrected my laser-like focus or “maniacal obsession” from a seemingly inescapable or crippling battle with perpetual burnout. 

immersing myself in this unexplored world of imagery aimed at documenting – in great detail – the drudgery of ornament extraction, transport, and reassembly at navy pier will no doubt lead to a book, where the images alone will carry the message.

like my previous publications (i.e., bldg. 51: american architectural artifact catalog, unearthing chicago, and lost and found), i will no doubt finance this endeavor as well, to ensure it’s done my way – using the same trusted people and printers that made prior publications a success – that is, to deliver an engaging and largely forgotten narrative through a combination of images and ornament. thankfully, i have many resources and/or collections to draw from, so i’m very much looking forward to putting all of it together in book format.

note: images and artifacts courtesy of the richard nickel committee, ryerson and burnham library, art institute of chicago, john vinci collection, and bldg. 51 museum architectural ornament archive.