Chicago Sun-Times Architecture Critic Lee Bey will present The Architectural Beauty of the Far South and Southwest Side, detailing the remarkably beautiful and largely unsung architecture in Chicago’s south side neighborhoods, Friday, April 10, 7 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago.
Bey’s presentation will showcase lesser-known but important work by luminary architects such as Jeanne Gang, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Eero Saarinen, as well as buildings by pioneering black architects including Walter T. Bailey, John Moutoussamy, and Roger Margerum.
Contrary to popular narratives that typically ignore the great architectural heritage of Chicago’s South Side, Bey’s talk will feature the beautiful and intact buildings and neighborhoods that reflect the value and potential of the area. His presentation will offer much to delight and intrigue even those familiar with the South Side.
The program is hosted by Ridge Historical Society (RHS), and is the first in what will be the organization’s annual speaker series. Admission is $25 per person, and proceeds will benefit RHS, a not-for-profit organization that preserves and promotes the history of Chicago’s Ridge communities including Morgan Park, Beverly Hills, Washington Heights and Mount Greenwood.
The award-winning architecture critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, Bey’s writing, and photography on architecture and urban design have been featured in many news outlets, architectural journals, and international design publications. He is the author of the much-praised book Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago’s South Side, which showcases his architectural photography and social commentary. Bey is the main photographer of the book Who is the City For? Architecture, Equity and the Public Realm in Chicago, written by Blair Kamin.
An adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture, Bey is an expert in Chicago history and late 20th century Black history. He previously served as director of media and government affairs for the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, executive director of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and deputy chief of staff for architecture and urban planning under Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Tickets for the program can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/RHS-lee. For more information, email ridgehistory@hotmail.com or call 773-881-1675.