Chicago to host exhibition of 9/11 photographs

An internationally acclaimed, grass-roots exhibition of more than 1,500 photographs relating directly to the events of the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy and its aftermath is coming to Chicago. ‘here is new york: a democracy of photographs’ will be presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at 72 E. Randolph St., across from the Chicago Cultural Center, beginning Friday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, March 30.

The Chicago presentation of “here is new york” is the first major venue for the exhibition outside of New York City. The exhibition evolved from a small SoHo storefront in response to the tragedy. The resulting flood of images has attracted up to 3,000 visitors a day in New York.

The exhibition includes powerful and poignant images taken by professional and amateur photographers. Regardless of source, the photographic prints are displayed anonymously and frameless, and informally hung on walls and from wires. A 12-minute video shot during the 24 hours after the tragedy will also be shown continuously in the gallery. Chicagoans are invited to contribute their own photographs relating to the events of September 11. These photos will be scanned on site and added to the archive.

Selected digital prints will be available for sale at $25 each, as well as the video in VHS or DVD format for $30. Net proceeds will go to the Children’s Aid Society World Trade Center Relief Fund and other charities.

The exhibition concept was developed by Here is New York, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to exhibiting and archiving these images and donating net proceeds from sales to public charities that assist those whose lives have been directly affected by the tragedy. There are more than 3,000 photographs in the archive, many of which are available at www.hereisnewyork.org along with additional information.

The exhibition will be open seven days a week, including holidays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at (312) 744-6630 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/CulturalAffairs/.