The Chicago Canal

Repairs on the retaining wall near Oakton Canoe Launch

For my new project, I am very much interested in how humans have shaped the waterways to suit a highly populated area. Historically, I have painted landscapes with an idealized view of the waterways and you were more likely to see an image like this one:

The Chicago River is more aptly called the Chicago Canal because it has been engineered, throughout the history of our city, to suit human needs and uses. Part of this story is told in Richard Lanyon's book Building the Canal To Save Chicago. This book tells about the early history of Chicago's canal system and how it was  shaped. "The history of the little understood canal system is important as we contemplate changes. With the flat topography of the Chicago region, any disturbance of the surface drainage system may have profound effects on our future welfare."  Understanding how the system works and how it was developed will help residents of the region make informed decisions about issues facing the Great Lakes. 

Repair work on the Wilmette Pumping Station

You can see another view of this historic bridge here.