There’s still time to purchase ASV Christmas cards, each depicting a beautiful photo of Chicago at its holiday best. Each card has a poignant message inside that will warm the hearts of all who receive it from you. And remember: All proceeds benefit the ASV program, that provides a way for Catholic Charities dinner guests to expand their talents as photographers. Click on the red Christmas Card store above to select your card today. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Artist Statements
The view from the river walk to the lake emphasizes the beauty of our city.
Valerie B.Photography is a recording of expression. My expression is freelance; the ability to share a message, my message is peace and excitement.
Robert N.I like to take photos and the pictures I took. It is awesome!
Maurice C.My second time trying this medium for expression. I usually draw, paint or write. But this turned out to be very helpful in choosing what to capture on film. Also why to capture on film. So I can only say if it looks interesting I try to capture the interest.
Charles F.I try to take photos that show beauty in its many forms. I have named my photos (for fun): A) High on LSD B) Beau Bridges C) Monet Tree D) Rhapsody in Blue
Barry G.Please find smiles inside…
Mia G.I enjoy everything about the project. The day I took the photos, it was a bright, sunny day.
Regina H.I like to talk to others and see a new life. Time is not good – I don’t have a job or home. Working for it all but pictures and the photo project are helping me to look up. Being with friends at photo project has helped me.
John L.These three shots were done during the late day because I was trying to capture shade, light and shadow to produce a scene that would be appealing and comfortable to the eye. The third shot with bike was an expression of reflection, light, and shadow.
Maurice P.I have been taking pictures for eight years and I am still in the pictures. I like being in it because it helps me calm down and be happy. I like taking pictures outside a lot, hot, snow, that what I like doing. It shows what best comes out of me.
Octavia W.Photography is like still poetry, looking through the lens of a camera, I try to find something that speaks directly to me. I love to escape. Photography is a perfect way to escape. When I am taking pictures, I go to a faraway place where I can become one with the camera, and nothing else matters. I love my photography class. I have learned how to hold a camera correctly, at the same time choose a view that speaks directly to me.
Eva M.Where do we go when we go. Do you know yet life goes on. Life at time could feel like a cage. Most people have no idea it exist be it up top or at the bottom, we are all seeking of some sort of freedom.
Shawn B.I like taking pictures around the holidays because everything is so decorative. I like taking pictures of the Bulls, the Sox, the Blackhawks and the Cubs, all in Chicago because they are all winners.
Ronald G.I started photography as a hobby and it turned into a passion. I find it fascinating to shoot a sunrise and a sunset. Noticing how the colors change as the sun rises in the early morning is like God creating his art. Nothing to me can replace photographing God at this best artwork.
Tommy L.Always needing to express my feelings toward the world of inventiveness, a perception of my imagination, to be an expression of freedom.
William R.I was born and raised in Chicago. A city of big buildings and beautiful people. When I take pictures this is my way to express myself, using the camera. I love it.
Robert N.Photography is my calling. I have been with the “After Supper Visions” program for 16 years. I am a pioneer of this program. It enabled me to show my love for my two sons through this art. Thank you for helping me to support my sons as a single parent.
Margaret A.I like the photography because it makes me feel like I’ve done something important.
Love S.When I took the pictures, I felt full of joy and happiness. I smelled the colorful flowers and was inspired to take the pictures. The statue was about church. I felt I needed to take the picture because it was a still life. The picture with the grass is full of green, which is my favorite color and most of all it was a beautiful day.
Markeara L.As the saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words. In other words, pictures can tell a story. Good or bad, happiness, sadness, whatever the story might be; a visual of what you are trying to say could help the story be told better.
Christopher D.Back to the show again. I love coming here. The pictures let me be creative. I like talking to the people that come to the show and I like to see the pictures of the other artists in the show. I take the camera with me everywhere I go. I always have my eyes open for different pictures that might jump out at me…This year I was at one of the races in Chicago and lucky enough that the city closed off the streets. I was able to take some pictures of the streets of Chicago without any traffic.… Read more
Mike B.Showing my pictures of outdoor nature and city landscape.
Donnell W.It is my expression of my photography of my life vision is the vision of my life in the world of beauty.
James L.Random photography of the city. From the early morning not as bitterly cold outside as it feels.
Ruby T.I am 48 years old, AA, disabled, single female; who is both an educated mason that is both poor and homeless. I am also a non-veteran, non-gang member, without children. Due to gentrification, I was evicted out of public housing after a quarter of a century. All praises and thanks to Father God and Catholic Charities. I am moving from being barred from low-income housing to the bus and park bench to a new home of my own. Step by step.
Michelle T.Photography is an art and I pray that my pictures are a good example of my talent as an artist.
Gerald G.I love this project because it makes me feel proud taking pictures of doors, windows, plants, animals, and buildings. I do enjoy taking pictures; it makes me feel good about animals, plants, building, food, and myself.
Sandra W.Feels exciting to be part of the photo project. I got a chance to create something to capture nature and it makes me feel more of a part of creation.
Thomas L.Photography relaxes me. It makes me feel proud to be a Chicagoan. Our city is so beautiful – we should never take for granted. We are blessed to live here.
Michael W.I spent the summer in Cedar Michigan last year, and the view at most everywhere I went was breathtaking, so here are some of the sights I would like to share.
Robert R.I began doing this art project for a year now… but at first I thought it was going to be a waste of my time, but now I’m beginning to really like this program… I love to see the different photos that have been entered in the art show.
Lamont B.Had a good time doing it. Hope you love them as much as I do.
Paul S.“Great are the works of the LORD ; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 111:2-3 I am always pondering the beauty of this world. The unique symmetry of each variety of flower, shrub or tree is breathtaking. I choose the Daffodils, the Azaleas, the exotic Scilla Peruviana, and the leaf of the Papaya tree to display in this year’s photo show. I hope that you enjoy these selections.
Marie H.Pictures give me a pleasure of good time. I like taking pictures in the mid-day hours because it makes my day go smoother and faster. Catholic Charities inspires me because of their hospitality every day in serving the homeless. I have been a part of Catholic Charities for 17 years – a very good organization.
Sammie B.I like the fact that I can learn about taking pictures and I hope I can continue to learn.
Claude S.I came to Catholic Charities to be in the class on Wednesday and one of my friends told me about the class on Tuesday. I love to take pictures of colors and shapes. Pictures to me is artwork. Each picture to me has a shape and color; it tells you a story about something. As a child, I was in art classes and I find art is a melody; it is also like a book with a beginning and an ending.
Lori V.The heavens are higher than the earth symbolized by the globe, it is even higher than the Willis tower aka Sears Tower. It is higher than the flags along with the Willis Tower, and the new Ferris Wheel featured at Navy Pier. To err may be human, but heaven is always divine, and such are we.
Cheryl H.Photography puts us in the Here and Now. It teaches us beauty, and therefore life itself is fleeting.
Vernon J.Everything must be rooted and grounded in love according to the Bible. The flower, carrots and the celery were rooted and grounded in love, so was our country, symbolized by the flag and Patriot on the Horse. Want to change the world… root for love, by loving yourself and others, by making a world a better place for all to love. That is how you change the world; root for love, by being rooted in love. Sow love, reap love, reap what showed and grounded in love.
Kenny S.We only must tap into the very inter beings of our souls to awaken the art forms in us all. If you do not enjoy what you are doing you will never be good at it. By Luke Parker. If you don’t start somewhere, you’re gonna go nowhere. By Bob Marley. When you photograph people in color you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in black and white you photograph their soul. Hippy Ted Grant
Deborah A.