Chris Ware Pays Tribute To Oak Park-River Forest In New Posters

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 8, 2012 9:30PM

Artwork: Chris Ware

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is lucky to have a friend in Chris Ware. The popular cartoonist created two original posters featuring a Prairie-style home at their centers: The Charles A. Purcell House in River Forest and the Arthur B. Heurtley House in Oak Park. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest.

Ware explained the design of the posters:

"The 'concept' of the posters was to use the size and shape of the shared "O" in each logo as a sort of portal to another time around an architectural landmark specific to each town--a nod to my cartoonist friend Richard McGuire, who's been working on a book along these lines long before that "Dear Photograph" site ever came into being.

“I hope you think this somehow slightly reflects the spirit and mission of a Historical Society -- which is, I think, to help people see things both as they are and as they were, since that's of course what allows people to empathize with others and (hopefully) what gives life meaning.”

Ware added subtle historical details to each poster, such as a young Ernest Hemingway catching a football in front of a car in one, or Frank Lloyd Wright on the Heurtley House's second floor porch, as well as depictions of life in present-day Oak Park-River Forest.

The posters are for sale on the Historical Society's website for $30 each, $50 for the pair, limited edition signed posters for $125 each or $225 a pair; and limited edition signed prints for $300 each.

(h/t Unabridged Bookstore, via Gapers Block]