A Year in Humboldt Park opens in the Boat House

Over one hundred seventy-five art and landscape enthusiasts attended the opening of Dina Petrakis' photo exhibit called A Year in Humboldt Park, held August 13 at Humboldt Park's historic Boat House building. This photo exhibit and the two and one-half month long series (through the end of October) of events surrounding it, has been designed to celebrate the 150th birthday of Jens Jensen.

Jensen was a Danish born landscape designer who promoted the "Prairie Style" of design in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.  He was appointed Superintendent of Humboldt Park in the mid -1890, fired in 1900 because of his efforts to fight corruption in that region, and then five years later, appointed General Superintendent and Chief Landscape Architect. The series is sponsored by the Chicago Park District and Parkways Foundation.

The design of this exhibit and the series could be viewed as taken directly from philosophies outlined in Jensen's book Siftings. In fact, all the artists were inspired by Jensen's work to create new work and you will be able to see both the Jensen and the contemporary artist reflected in each of the events.

Displaying the photographic essay in a Jensen landscape and drawing people from all over Chicagoland to view and discuss it, to create tours to explain the Jensen's design and philosophical concepts, to read from Jensen's writings and then discuss them, and to create new films and innovative games to teach Jensen's concepts to all ages perpetuates the "city in the garden" concept. These concepts help to create the sense of community between our city inhabitants of all races, ages, and economic groups within the environment that was designed to influence and encourage creative and community spirit. That is what happened at the opening.

To view the exhibit you enter the Boat House designed around 1910 by Prairie School architects Schmidt, Garden, and Martin and commissioned by Jensen during his tenure with the parks. Recently, BauerLatoza Studio was award the 3.6 million dollar contract and restored the landmark building. For this work they received the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, Preservation Project of the Year. Edward Torrez, AIA from BauerLatoza and Julia Bachrach,Chicago Park District Historian, will give a talk at the Boat House as part of the series on the restoration process, Wed., Sept. 29, 6 p.m.

The second floor gallery houses the exhibit which expertly combines and then transitions the viewer from the simple elements of the Prairie School of landscape to the grand, complete landscape. Petrakis says "I started visiting Humboldt Park 15 years ago, as a place to exercise me and the dog. It has become much more, the Park both soothes and invigorates me. The restoration in 2002 of the historic Boat House, the huge investment in hardscape and native plants, the 100-year-later realization of Jens Jensen's Prairie River made it even better... my desire to document a life cycle of the Park, Sand County Almanac style, moved me to photograph the Park for the entire year of 2009."

Walking through the exhibit you see Jensen's large landscapes such as the Prairie River, lagoon, and rose gardens transform month by month as the year proceeds. Yet at the same time, the elements of those landscapes, the architecture, the birds, insects, fish, and plants, are also viewed individually and in some cases microscopically, then in small groupings, and are then transitioned into the overall landscape through the layout in the exhibit room.

Moving through the exhibit the viewer experiences the textures, colors, movements, and transitions that are elements of a very successful landscape design that has held up for over 100 years. Also, the orchestrated timing of events in the design is apparent. You see how a certain grouping of trees or plants come into play at specific times, while remaining subdued for the remainder of the year. In the more formal setting such as the rose gardens, currently natural, like groupings of annuals and perennials, the present day landscape contractor's work can be viewed as a bit rushed. For example, the ornamental grasses were removed in the fall before they came to their glory in winter. Leaving them would have been a bit more consistent with the Jensen concepts of enjoying the winter interest of the perennial.

Most Events will be held at Humboldt Park Boat House, 1359 N. Sacramento. A Year in Humboldt Park will run thru Oct. 29. Gallery Hours: Fri. 6 to 8 p.m., Sat. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For viewing by appointment contact Dina Petrakis via email.