3418 W Armitage Ave Logan Square

Kinan Sweidan

Is a photographer and software engineer based in Chicago. He focuses on capturing fleeting moments of joy and resilience within the urban hustle. With a sharp eye for detail honed through his engineering background, Kinan offers a unique perspective in his photography that blends technical precision with artistic vision. His work features a grainy, nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic street photography and film. By combining traditional darkroom techniques with modern technology, he carefully crafts each image, honoring the rich legacy of film photography while embracing the possibilities of the digital age. Kinan works with vintage cameras and lenses using classic and cinematic film stocks to capture images with depth, texture, and authenticity. He develops his film using handcrafted chemical processes, achieving distinctive, dramatic tones and a nostalgic, timeless aesthetic. Then, Kinan photographs his film negatives with a digital camera, emulating the process of analog enlargers to maintain the integrity of the original film. This hybrid approach allows him to merge the tactile beauty of film with the precision of digital tools, creating work that connects the past and present through artistry and craftsmanship. Originally from Damascus, Syria, the world's oldest city, Kinan's passion for photography was ignited by the city's vibrant energy, bustling souks, and jasmine wafting through ancient streets, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafes. Growing up surrounded by this intricate blend of the old and the new has given him a unique perspective on street photography, enabling him to capture the dynamic contrasts that define urban life. Through his images, Kinan invites viewers to pause and reflect on the stories that unfold in the everyday rhythm of these urban spaces.

 

Christopher J. Stepan

Through my art, I aim to capture the beauty and essence of life's unique moments. Each piece is a natural response to the world around me, with subjects that tell their own stories and dictate their own style. Empathy guides me to scenes that inspire me, where I find the vitality of living beings and their environment truly captivating. My technique is fluid and ever-changing, adapting to the perspectives of each subject I encounter. The fusion of entity and environment is a central theme in my work, highlighting the interconnectedness of all beings. My art is a reflection of the diverse and dynamic world we live in, a celebration of the beauty and influence of life in all its forms.

 

Kevin Dill

Is a Chicago interdisciplinary artist. His work primarily consists of film photography, mixed media, and painting. Kevin is an educator and community leader in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago where he currently teaches 7th and 8th grade visual arts. Kevin graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a BFA in Art Education in 2021, and received his Masters in Education in 2022 with a focus on language and linguistics. Kevin frequently can be found carrying around his point and shoot and documenting his life. Kevin enjoys pushing the boundaries of photography by altering images in a scanner and making collages.

Jahnavi Thakore

Is currently a student at Niles West High School, and lives in the village of Niles. She went to Clarence E. Culver School for grades 1-8. Jahnavi aims to improve her current skills, and grow as a person. Her first work to be displayed outside of school was in the Skokie Library. Jahnavi likes to read, draw, and play cozy games when she's bored. She also appreciates a good quiet library. Artist Statement: This photo was taken one morning when the sun was shining through the kitchen windows. The light reflecting off the glass of tea looked pretty, so I took a picture. I enjoy finding and appreciating the simple beauty of things like this. When I get caught up, this helps me remind myself to slow down and be thankful for the moment, and also enjoy some nice tea while I'm at it.

 

Gabriella Cline

I attend Niles West High School. I was born in Illinois and raised in Chicago, but now live in the suburbs near my school in Skokie. I've studied a multitude of art classes including graphic design, painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, digital art, and fashion design. My favorite art medium is digital art because it allows me to use more creativity and frankly it is much easier than traditional art. I like to create my art in various apps including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and Adobe Lightroom. Things that inspire me to create art are music and fashion. If I hear a song, I try to create artwork of what the song is trying to portray and with fashion, if I see multiple outfits I like, I draw them on models and combine or get rid of the different pieces of clothes to make the outfit I see in my head. Other things I like to do are cooking, baking cakes, making balloon animals, and doing makeup.

 

Javier Delgado

 -Imagine and create

 

Deanna Sortino (Illinois Secondary Art Teacher of the Year 2020)

hails from Willow Springs, IL, and has been teaching for over 20 years with more than a decade focused on the digital arts at Niles West High School in Skokie, IL. She is a trained photographer and designer, who focuses on capturing the decisive moments, interesting lighting, and minimalism within her art. Her favorite form of photography is street photography, where you might see her transform into her alter ego, "Ninja Mouse" while out with her camera -- quickly capturing the scene as silent as a mouse. Ms. Sortino is also the Mini Portfolio Day Creator, SlideRoom/Scholarship Coordinator, Data Analysis Coordinator, Assistant Graphic Designer, Assistant Early College Program Coordinator, and Educator Art Throwdown Co-Creator for ArtConnectED (www.artconnected.org) which is an organization that connects students to millions of dollars of art college scholarships each year. She has also helped lead The Black LatinX, Asian and Indigenous Creatives Matter Initiative Team for the IAEA by spending several months putting together a comprehensive list of over 700+ BIPOC creatives and anti-racist resources to share with teachers across the world.

 

Edgar Velazquez

I am a Mexican American photographer. For over a decade, I’ve been capturing life’s moments on film, using photography to shape my perspective on the world. My journey started with seven years of service in the U.S. Army, which took me across the globe, including the Middle East. Along the way, I found an unexpected passion in competitive paintball—a niche sport with a thriving scene—that allowed me to travel. Of course, my camera was always with me. After my time in the military, I transitioned into the bartending and restaurant industry, fully immersing myself in late-night culture. The unique people, places, and strange adventures I encountered became an endless source of inspiration, and I documented it all through my lens. As the world changed, I became deeply involved in activism in Chicago and across the United States, capturing the intensity and emotion of the movements I was part of including Standing Rock and Flint, MI. Eventually, I built a home in a van and hit the road, traveling across the country with my camera by my side.

 

Blanca Parra

I am a Chicago based film photographer and 1st generation Mexican woman. I am submitting a series of worn-down entrances/windows that I came across during my trip to Oaxaca City back in 2023. They caught my eye because in all the damage there is so much beauty. There’s an understanding that there’s a story there which leads you to wonder what it is. Who lives behind those close doors, what stories do these doors and windows have to tell. Which brings us back to the title of “Life Through the Lens”.