“She never intended to become a photographer but that is what Sandra Steinbrecher is and in her new book ‘The Salt Shed: The Transformation of a Chicago Landmark,’ she shows herself to be an extraordinary one.
“‘There is not a day, not one day over the last three years that I have not thought about this place, whether I was on site or not,’ she says. ‘From the first photo, it seemed momentous to me. But I never imagined how much work it would be. This is a Chicago story, but I think it could, or should, resonate with other cities, as all communities have to figure out how to manage their empty or abandoned buildings’
“The Salt Shed, as many of you likely know because millions of you have seen it while driving along the Kennedy Expressway, is the indoor and outdoor music venue and entertainment complex on Elston Avenue north of Division Street along the banks of the Chicago River. It was, for most of the previous century since being built in 1929, the operation of the Morton Salt Company, its charming little girl logo on the rooftop visible for all to see.
“That Morton Salt girl, who Steinbrecher refers to as the ‘beloved Umbrella Girl,’ is on the cover of her book, one of the 130-some stunning photos that capture the transformation, the rebirth actually, of this slice of the city.
“She started coming to the site as soon as she heard about what was taking place there. She was soon granted permission by the folks at Blue Star Properties and 16” on Center, the firms remaking the property, and began to regularly visit.
“‘I was embedded there, going three or four days a week,’ she says. ‘I did not interfere, the idea was to become invisible. But many of the people seemed eager to talk about their work. They had never been asked before.’
“There is an intimacy to her photos, an appreciation of the beauty of the environment and the commitment of the people working there. Her photos provide an intimate and powerful portrait of place. They grab your eyes, spark your mind.
“There are some words in the book too and some of the words are hers, as in a snappy introduction, where she writes, in part, about an experience that was ‘powerful and poignant, seeing something new created out of something old, restored rather than demolished.’
“Other words come from her throughout and others are in a foreword by my former colleague and syndicated columnist Heidi Stevens, who writes in part, ‘To love a place fully, to know a place truly, we need to know its past.’
“Words come from historian Paul Durica: ‘Today, the shed is as much a part of the city’s landscape as the Sears Tower. And like the tower, it’s difficult to imagine Chicago without the Morton salt shed.’
“Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, writes in part: ‘It is remarkable how Chicago transforms and reinvents itself.’
“Yes it is, but so often the past is obliterated, buildings disappear. That’s why, Steinbrecher says. ‘My goal was to make historic preservation come alive.’
“She tells me, ‘I think it’s important that we nurture or encourage people to have the creative vision for how to preserve and revitalize our buildings and spaces, plus ensure that we have people who have the skills and craftsmanship to do the labor.’
“‘Yes, it was difficult to edit the photos and I will tell you that it broke my heart to leave some out of the book but I am proud of what we have made,’ she says. ‘This is the story of Chicago, its continuing vitality. It is a happy celebration.'”(Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 9/18/24)
Read the full story at Chicago Tribune
- As the Morton Salt complex was given a new life, a photographer captured the transformation, Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 9/18/24
- Photo Essay: Inside the Salt Shed’s Rebirth: Sandra Steinbrecher’s images capture how Chicagoans transformed and preserved the industrial complex into a cultural center, Photos by Sandra Steinbrecher, Interview by Sarah Steimer, Chicago Magazine, 9/26/24