The Sound of the ‘L’ Gallery Opening

The Sound of the “L”: A Love Letter to Chicago’s Elevated Train System, a solo show of watercolor paintings by architect | artist Jane Sloss will show at the Firecat Projects from November 15th through December 2024. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 15th from 7 to 10 PM.

The Sound of the “L” is a series of 20 watercolor paintings, which capture historic “L” stations, neighborhood landmarks that live in the shadow of the “L” and views from “L” stations. The collection includes paintings of stations from all eight of the “L” lines. The collection consists entirely of paintings made “en plein air” or painted outdoors, allowing the artist to experience the neighborhood in which the station is located.

The paintings provide glimpses of the neighborhoods through which the “L” lines cross, illustrate places which evoke nostalgia, and reveal portions of the city which may be unknown to Chicagoans who live at far extremes of the “L” system.  The collection is both personal, representing the artist’s experience and memory as a Chicago resident, as well as representing that which is interesting and special about Chicago’s elevated train system, including the oldest “L” station, two stations that have been relocated from their original locations, and distinctive neighborhood features like the Chinatown Gateway and the workers’ cottages of McKinley Park.