Where do Chicago photographers go to get immortalized?

Photo by Thomas Marlow

It's one of those unbelievably simple ideas that make me wonder "Why didn't I think of that?" Take pictures of people and put them on display in a prominent place, in this case, the Grand and State Red Line Subway station in downtown Chicago. A giant mural will be created by printing each photo in glass tile that will stretch across the wall of the train station. Thomas Marlow has set a goal of photographing 15,000 people for his Chicago Street Studio Project. Since July, Marlow has been setting up his portable studio in different high-traffic locations around the Chicago metropolitan area to capture real Chicagoans in the midst of their day. Visit Chicago Street Studio Project to learn more.

It's going to take quite some time for Marlow to reach his goal, so today Bobby and I are going to do our part by going to the O'Hare blue line stop where Thomas is currently set up. If you want to know where you can have your visage eternally memorialized in glass tile, click here for Thomas' schedule. Click here to see the many excellent portraits on his website.

p.s. We just got back from Thomas' studio near the Blue Line stop at O'Hare and I just have to say that it was a pleasure to meet such a gifted portrait photographer. I was fortunate to be in line behind a couple people, because I got to see how Thomas made people feel comfortable and "cut loose" in the span of only a few minutes. If that wasn't enough, he gives everyone a free print of their best photo! This is a tremendous opportunity to have your portrait taken by a talented artist while also contributing to a significant community art project.