I was invited by John Powers of the Bricks and Mortar foundation in Chicago to photograph the Catholic churches of his city – a body of buildings that rose after the great fire of 1871 and which reflect the exuberance and confidence of this then rapidly emerging city of immigrants. The churches still identified as Polish, Italian, German, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Mexican, Irish etc.- something that could only have happened in urban America – each church an extension of its communities American dream. Built using the latest construction techniques, the marble columns are often hollow; arches are not structural but a skin supported by concealed steel joists. The building systems used to make spectacular hotels, theatres and cinemas equally projected the glory of god.
