Still Ill by CD Diers @diersy - Tumblr Blog

Refraction of the Reflection - caught a cool effect from the rooftop as sun reflected off the Sears and refracted through the fog that was passing by it creating unreal geometric patterns.

I Can See Clear But I Still Get Starry Eyed Looking At You - I'm still focused on the little things.

There's a World in Every Flower… and I'm Trying to Explore Them All - so last week was historical graffiti & street art. This week back to the present. Close ups of patterns and flowers use to be my thing in the days of film. This past weekend I challenged myself to look at the details I often walk past and see if they could be framed up in a new light.

…And So I Just Took Off On My Bicycle - This shot of one of my all time favorite Goons pieces was taken in 2009. I first came across @g00ns work back in 2005 when I walked past newspaper boxes. His odd faced stickers would be all over them as I walked through the downtown and other neighborhoods. Over time his worked evolved and he found a nice medium with his unique paste up of colorful characters placed around Chicago.

Super Heroes - This was from a street art show we had at Chicago Urban Art Society in May 2011. This was where I think Hebru Brantley @hebrubrantley started to show the style that has propelled his career. There were so many great artist in this show (I know I'm missing a few): Hebru Brantley Chris Silva Don't Fret The Grocer Cro Bonus Saves Señor Codo Tip Toe Mental Saro Lots of criticism and bickering leading up to the show and after it too but it's still one the best that has been put on about the Chicago Street Art Scene. There's a book out there on Amazon for sale if you want see the actual street art (as documented by @senor_codo @tefennell4 @oscararriola & @gobonussaves ) This show focused on street art brought into a gallery setting.

Blow It Up - We continue to flash back through my archive if street art and graffiti documentation. This is a shot of Hebru Brantley at a solo show at Artistic Jeanius in 2008 in Pilsen. This was my first exposure to him and his work. I was there scoping out the scene as I had a show there in a few months. You could tell he was composed and ready back then and now he's blown up. I'm happy to have been in a few group shows with him over the years. He has done street art but I would still say he created his name from his studio work. All this looking back has me reflecting on how you never know how you will be a part of history. @hebrubrantley @artisticjeanius

In Illinois we don't have government instead we call it corruption and that's how things get done. - Codo archive week continues with a piece by Ray Noland or as some knew him Cro. Done on the back of what use to be an Old Navy store on State street. This piece lasted for about 24 hours before it was gone. He did variations of Rod Blagojevich, the latest imprisoned governor of Illinois, all over the city and it went viral in the national media. I called it Run Blago Run after that clever German movie. Not sure what Ray called it. Run Blago Run stuck because that's what all the media who used this image called it. Ray did a lot of great work in the street especially during the 2008 Obama campaign he also was very talented in the studio as well. This was taken in 2009.

"You Know What? That Makes Me Mad" - we continue digging through the archives with a piece featuring Droopy Dog by @jashua77 from 2010 on the Augusta wall. Jash has been knocking out colorful great work and pop culture characters for a long while. Instantly recognizable to those who know his work and easily approachable to those who do not.

Pose - This is part 2 because Pose doesn't fit in a square. His career has really taken off but he also put in a lot of work to make it happen. Kids it's takes a lot of time and work to get good. If someone makes something look easy they probably put in 10,000 hours to get to the level of master. Never give up even when it seems like the mountain goes straight up. Stay at it long enough and you will find a way up. @tenderj

Shot From A Cannon - We continue the historical week of Chicago graffiti & street art with a look back to 2006. This is part 1 of 2 because Pose rarely ever painted small and was done at the Walls of Style. I'm learning that I was not as good as I thought I was when first started to document and a wide angle lens makes stitching walls so much easier. @tenderj

It's Better To Die On Your Feet Than To Live On Your Knees - So I'm kicking off a week highlighting Chicago artist by digging out photos from the archive over the last 10 years I have been focused on documenting graffiti & street art. I can't think of a better way to kick it off than with an amazing piece by @knowtrespassing from 2009 of Emiliano Zapata in Pilsen. GREVE has been doing solid work for a long, long time and was one the first writers I started driving around the south and west sides of Chicago looking for work. If you don't know his work check out his feed as he's been sharing wide variety of styles lately.

Searching for Honor - This is the Vietnam memorial in Washington DC and it may be one of the most powerful tributes I have ever witnessed. To comprehend all the names and sit back and watch family look for the names of loved ones is a humbling experience. I do not like war but it does not mean I do not respect those who serve. Let's give pause today as we celebrate the holiday that it came with a large price. This was taken in 2006 while visiting the Capitol. ✌️

Iwo Jima - This may be one of the most iconic images of WWII. Over 25,000 men died taking this hill on the South Pacific island. This is my second tribute to all the people who have served their country without question so that most people can live a free life today. I'm not a fan of war but I'm a lesser fan of evil people who impose their will on the powerless. This was taken at Arlington National Cemetery in 2006.

War Is Hell - Today the US honors those who have served without question and sacrificed so much. The general William Tecumseh Sherman once said during the US civil war "You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what your talking about". I know war will always be part of mankind and that peace on this earth is a pipe dream. I only hope that mans thirst for blood and conquest eventually diminish because everyone has suffered enough. This is first of 3 images I am posting today to honor those all around the world who have given their lives or have served with honor. This isn't about right and wrong this is only about paying respect. This image I took in the national cemetery in Arlington in 2006.

Live In Love - powerful words to live by as seen on @glasscurtain during the @chitecture instameet at Montrose beach.

Get your own skateboard board punk - This is Sir Charles and he showed up at the @enmasseproject mural project in Pilsen to take in the festivities. He also got ahold of @jshantzart skateboard and thought he'd show us a thing or two. Pets rule be kind to animals. ✌️

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Still Ill by CD Diers