Collecting a trace across from the corner the bomb was thrown during the Chicago 1886 Haymarket events, Chicago, USA, 2014. Photography: Jim Kirkhoff
HAYMARKET SQUARE (2014)
public space documentation/intervention
Metamorphosis/USA
public space documentation/intervention
Metamorphosis/USA
Οn August 13, 2014, an exploration of the Haymarket Square area in Chicago took place. Site of the 1886 Haymarket events, also known as Haymarket massacre, Haymarket riot, or Haymarket affair, the area was the location of an occurrence that spurred an international reaction giving rise to Labor Day on May 1.
On May 4 1886, what started off as a peaceful rally held in support of workers striking for the eight hour day and in reaction to the killing of several workers by the police the previous day, turned into a clash. Towards the end of the rally when the crowd was ordered to disperse a bomb was thrown into the path of the advancing police. The explosion along with the gunfire and confusion that ensued led to the death of policemen and protesters as well as the injury of many. Next day a nation wide martial law was declared. In Chicago four labour leaders were hanged, afterwards considered victims of mistrial and declared as martyrs of the labor movement.
In my expedition setting out to discover Haymarket, 128 years later, I considered the key locations during the 1886 events, including the spot that the bomb was thrown and the location of the police forces, as well as the places that at the time used to have a significance that is now lost, namely the Haymarket Square, once a lively market for the surrounding working class neighborhood, now a parking space, and the location of the 1886 Desplaines police station, the first mobilized during the events, now occupied by a parking lot. A series of 22 documentation samples were drawn marking the trail of the exploration.
The photographs illustrating the project, taken by the Chicago based photographer Jim Kirkhoff, as well as the documentation samples are shown in the order that follows the development of the exploration, starting from the Randolph and Desplaines intersection, site of the events, and terminating at Randolph and Jefferson str.
Haymarket Square, followed by the project Chicago Canyon, is part of Metamorphosis/USA and the broader project Metamorphosis
On May 4 1886, what started off as a peaceful rally held in support of workers striking for the eight hour day and in reaction to the killing of several workers by the police the previous day, turned into a clash. Towards the end of the rally when the crowd was ordered to disperse a bomb was thrown into the path of the advancing police. The explosion along with the gunfire and confusion that ensued led to the death of policemen and protesters as well as the injury of many. Next day a nation wide martial law was declared. In Chicago four labour leaders were hanged, afterwards considered victims of mistrial and declared as martyrs of the labor movement.
In my expedition setting out to discover Haymarket, 128 years later, I considered the key locations during the 1886 events, including the spot that the bomb was thrown and the location of the police forces, as well as the places that at the time used to have a significance that is now lost, namely the Haymarket Square, once a lively market for the surrounding working class neighborhood, now a parking space, and the location of the 1886 Desplaines police station, the first mobilized during the events, now occupied by a parking lot. A series of 22 documentation samples were drawn marking the trail of the exploration.
The photographs illustrating the project, taken by the Chicago based photographer Jim Kirkhoff, as well as the documentation samples are shown in the order that follows the development of the exploration, starting from the Randolph and Desplaines intersection, site of the events, and terminating at Randolph and Jefferson str.
Haymarket Square, followed by the project Chicago Canyon, is part of Metamorphosis/USA and the broader project Metamorphosis
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
Click on the thumbnails for full view and description
Haymarket Square
Public space documentation/intervention
Photography: Jim Kirkhoff
Public space documentation/intervention
Photography: Jim Kirkhoff
DOCUMENTATION SAMPLES/TRACES
Shown in the order collected
Shown in the order collected
Click on the thumbnails for full view and description
Haymarket Square
Documentation samples/drawings
Wax Crayon on Hanshi paper
Dimensions, 33 x 24 cm
Documentation samples/drawings
Wax Crayon on Hanshi paper
Dimensions, 33 x 24 cm
ΤΗΕ MAP OF THE HAYMARKET AREA I USED DURING MY EXPLORATION, INDICATING KEY LOCATIONS OF THE 1886 EVENTS
Map image source: Haymarket riot trial website