For every gun murder on Chicago’s South Side, there are approximately 10 million daps, high fives, handshakes, hugs, and kisses. Of course, these expressions of love, family, friendship, and respect are rarely newsworthy, so we hear about the violence and the drugs and the tragedy instead. For plenty of places in America, that’s all we hear about. That’s West Baltimore, it’s Northview Heights in Pittsburgh, and it’s Englewood in Chicago.
This exhibition hopes for a more nuanced examination. The intent behind this display of Cyrus Dowlatshahi’s and Amanda Williams’ work is to reveal the fact that the people living in the South Side, and in all disadvantaged communities, are ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances.
The exhibition will open on Friday, April 22 and be available until Monday, May 30. An opening reception will take place on Friday, April 22 from 6-6:30 p.m. in Paul V. Galvin Library, followed by a film screening of the documentary Takin’ Place at 6:30 p.m. in The McCormick Tribune Campus Center (MTCC) Auditorium.
This event reflects the values expressed in IIT’s Diversity Statement and is intended to promote diversity at Illinois Tech.