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We moved from our Chicago apartment to our first house--a $13,000 3 bedroom wonder in Des Plaines. It had a basement I used as a darkroom. Three or four of the now vintage prints I made in that time in that darkroom are together worth more than that house! The first artifact Florence installed was the camp bugle that was instrumental in our meeting at camp-I was the bugler and she was the counselor who edited the camp newspaper.
We moved from our Chicago apartment to our first house--a $13,000 3 bedroom wonder in Des Plaines. It had a basement I used as a darkroom. Three or four of the now vintage prints I made in that time in that darkroom are together worth more than that house! The first artifact Florence installed was the camp bugle that was instrumental in our meeting at camp-I was the bugler and she was the counselor who edited the camp newspaper.
We moved from our Chicago apartment to our first house--a $13,000 3 bedroom wonder in Des Plaines. It had a basement I used as a darkroom. Three or four of the now vintage prints I made in that time in that darkroom are together worth more than that house! The first artifact Florence installed was the camp bugle that was instrumental in our meeting at camp-I was the bugler and she was the counselor who edited the camp newspaper.

We moved from our Chicago apartment to our first house--a $13,000 3 bedroom wonder in Des Plaines. It had a basement I used as a darkroom. Three or four of the now vintage prints I made in that time in that darkroom are together worth more than that house! The first artifact Florence installed was the camp bugle that was instrumental in our meeting at camp-I was the bugler and she was the counselor who edited the camp newspaper.

Maker Shay, Arthur American, 1922-2018
Datec. 1951; printed 2014
MediumInkjet print
Dimensionspaper: 20 in x 16 in
Credit LineGift of the artist
Object number2014:220
Collections
  • On Chicago
About the ArtistOne of Chicago’s most prolific photographers, Art Shay published more than 30,000 photographs during his career, which spanned more than half a century and covered such subjects as John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign, the fights of Muhammad Ali, Hugh Hefner’s infamous bedroom office, the last man alive to have seen Abraham Lincoln’s corpse, Chicago police clubbing demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, and a swan snubbing a pig as they swim. Some of his favorite photographs, however, are those of Chicago writer Nelson Algren, author of The Man with the Golden Arm and winner of the first National Book Award. Shay and Algren met in 1949 when Shay pitched a story on “the prose poet of the Chicago slums” to his editors at Life magazine. The two men became close friends and spent time roaming near the West Side, encountering addicts, hookers, alcoholics, bums, cops, and hustlers, among many other street characters. The gritty photo essay was never published, but photographs from the series are currently held in many private and public collections. Both passionate about and critical of Chicago, Shay wrote a novel, Never Come Morning, depicting the seedy underbelly of crime and poverty in the city, which was banned by the Chicago Public Library System. After Algren’s death in 1981, Shay published Nelson Algren’s Chicago, a collection of his photographs from the men’s years together as well as accompanying texts.

Art Shay worked first as a reporter and then as a photographer for numerous publications including Life, Fortune, The New York Times, and Sports Illustrated. His photograph of Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev on an Iowa farm won Life Magazine’s “Picture of the Year” in 1959. Shay also published several books on photography and sports, including Nelson Algren’s Chicago (1988), Album for an Age (2000), and Animals (2002). His play, Where Have You Gone, Jimmy Stewart was produced by Chicago’s American Theater Company (ATC) in 2002.
In March of 1992, I made a road trip down the Mississippi River with my future wife Rachel and our dog Tasha. We traveled from our home in Minneapolis to Memphis. Each night we’d hunt for a discreet place to park so that we could sleep in our van. We’d unload all of our bags and make a small bedroom. A decade later I would travel the Mississippi again for my first book, Sleeping By The Mississippi. This picture is like looking at the seed from which all of that work sprung.
In March of 1992, I made a road trip down the Mississippi River with my future wife Rachel and our dog Tasha. We traveled from our home in Minneapolis to Memphis. Each night we’d hunt for a discreet place to park so that we could sleep in our van. We’d unload all of our bags and make a small bedroom. A decade later I would travel the Mississippi again for my first book, Sleeping By The Mississippi. This picture is like looking at the seed from which all of that work sprung.
Soth, Alec
1992; printed 2015
Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite. I do the barbecuing.
Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite. I do the barbecuing.
Owens, Bill
2007
Florence occupied her first Titles shop on Sheridan Road for more than 35 years. When the landlord tried to double the rent she moved to a much brighter location on St. John’s and stayed there until she died on August 22, 2012.
Florence occupied her first Titles shop on Sheridan Road for more than 35 years. When the landlord tried to double the rent she moved to a much brighter location on St. John’s and stayed there until she died on August 22, 2012.
Shay, Arthur
c. 1980; printed 2014
In 1988, I was the first author Florence honored with a book-signing. We sold 70 books. Our son Richard assisted making the picture, over-riding my self timer.
In 1988, I was the first author Florence honored with a book-signing. We sold 70 books. Our son Richard assisted making the picture, over-riding my self timer.
Shay, Arthur
1988; printed 2014
Ever stylish, Florence waits in front of our new house in Deerfield, for a lady friend to transport her to a Human Rights lunch. She and I handled the PR for Deerfield’s Citizens for Human Rights in the 1959 fight to permit African-Americans to buy houses in Deerfield.
Ever stylish, Florence waits in front of our new house in Deerfield, for a lady friend to transport her to a Human Rights lunch. She and I handled the PR for Deerfield’s Citizens for Human Rights in the 1959 fight to permit African-Americans to buy houses in Deerfield.
Shay, Arthur
c. 1955; printed 2014
Ever stylish, Florence waits in front of our new house in Deerfield, for a lady friend to transport her to a Human Rights lunch. She and I handled the PR for Deerfield’s Citizens for Human Rights in the 1959 fight to permit African-Americans to buy houses in Deerfield.
Ever stylish, Florence waits in front of our new house in Deerfield, for a lady friend to transport her to a Human Rights lunch. She and I handled the PR for Deerfield’s Citizens for Human Rights in the 1959 fight to permit African-Americans to buy houses in Deerfield.
Shay, Arthur
1959; printed 2014
Reading and books were the mainstays of Florence’s life. Until a month before she died she liked to sit on our deck and read mindless mysteries under our beloved begonia trees planted by Harmon when he was 11 in 1962. As she grew weaker in her final days I would cut the heavy books in thirds so she could handle (our joke) heavy pop literature.
Reading and books were the mainstays of Florence’s life. Until a month before she died she liked to sit on our deck and read mindless mysteries under our beloved begonia trees planted by Harmon when he was 11 in 1962. As she grew weaker in her final days I would cut the heavy books in thirds so she could handle (our joke) heavy pop literature.
Shay, Arthur
c. 1980; printed 2014
In 1963, my activist wife Florence and I schlepped Steven, Lauren, and some JFK signs to greet him at O’Hare for a Chicago visit. He never arrived - a Chicago death threat intervened and we disappointedly went home with our two signs, which have decorated a dark corner of our living room these past 51 years.
In 1963, my activist wife Florence and I schlepped Steven, Lauren, and some JFK signs to greet him at O’Hare for a Chicago visit. He never arrived - a Chicago death threat intervened and we disappointedly went home with our two signs, which have decorated a dark corner of our living room these past 51 years.
Shay, Arthur
1963; printed 2014
Exhibition title card: This exhibition is dedicated to the two geniuses Florence and I loved who died too young- Our 20 year old son Harmon who was murdered in the Hippie jungles of Florida in 1972, and our dear friend and benefactor, the master metal sculptor, Dan Blue.
Exhibition title card: This exhibition is dedicated to the two geniuses Florence and I loved who died too young- Our 20 year old son Harmon who was murdered in the Hippie jungles of Florida in 1972, and our dear friend and benefactor, the master metal sculptor, Dan Blue.
Shay, Arthur
n.d.; printed 2014
Florence often accompanied me when I was photographing at Northbrook Court Mall. She would scoot from shop to shop while waiting for us to have dinner, or I fussed with my hidden camera. One evening, I saw my beloved wife and model doing what she had steadfastly refused to do all her life, trying on a wig. Years later, here is Florence in her nursing home-surprising me for our Passover dinner [...]
Florence often accompanied me when I was photographing at Northbrook Court Mall. She would scoot from shop to shop while waiting for us to have dinner, or I fussed with my hidden camera. One evening, I saw my beloved wife and model doing what she had steadfastly refused to do all her life, trying on a wig. Years later, here is Florence in her nursing home-surprising me for our Passover dinner [...]
Shay, Arthur
n.d.; printed 2014
Our first Chicago home in 1948 was a $125 a month abode near Senn high school
Our first Chicago home in 1948 was a $125 a month abode near Senn high school
Shay, Arthur
1948; printed 2014
I was doing a magazine story on our suburban family spending a weekend in a downtown hotel during the Christmas season. The kids’ favorite activities? Riding the elevators and calling room service. Here Harmon energetically tests a Sheraton mattress as we settle in.
I was doing a magazine story on our suburban family spending a weekend in a downtown hotel during the Christmas season. The kids’ favorite activities? Riding the elevators and calling room service. Here Harmon energetically tests a Sheraton mattress as we settle in.
Shay, Arthur
c. 1960; printed 2014
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