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I often used my five children and Florence as models. Here, for my book entitled, “What Happens When You Make a Telephone Call” Lauren and Richard lead the run to answer the phone.
I often used my five children and Florence as models. Here, for my book entitled, “What Happens When You Make a Telephone Call” Lauren and Richard lead the run to answer the phone.
I often used my five children and Florence as models. Here, for my book entitled, “What Happens When You Make a Telephone Call” Lauren and Richard lead the run to answer the phone.

I often used my five children and Florence as models. Here, for my book entitled, “What Happens When You Make a Telephone Call” Lauren and Richard lead the run to answer the phone.

Maker Shay, Arthur American, 1922-2018
Datec. 1965; printed 2014
MediumInkjet print
Dimensionspaper: 16 in x 20 in
Credit LineGift of the artist
Object number2014:240
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.
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
As you may have noticed, like most Life Magazine photo journalists I often used my family as models. Starting with their mom, they were all beautiful. One of my good clients was the national Blue Cross association. I did perhaps a dozen health booklets and several ads for them. For one of my illustrations of ambulance care- I used Florence who cheerfully, if uncomfortably, registered pain in a seemingly speeding ambulance (moving several feet in my driveway!)
As you may have noticed, like most Life Magazine photo journalists I often used my family as models. Starting with their mom, they were all beautiful. One of my good clients was the national Blue Cross association. I did perhaps a dozen health booklets and several ads for them. For one of my illustrations of ambulance care- I used Florence who cheerfully, if uncomfortably, registered pain in a seemingly speeding ambulance (moving several feet in my driveway!)
Shay, Arthur
n.d.; printed 2014
Florence wouldn’t accept any child’s excuse for poor grades. Here she silently chides Richard. One ofFlorence proudly leads sons Harmon and Steve into the synagogue for Richard’s Bar Mitzvah in 1966. Richard nervously holds his prayer book. Florence was 44.
Florence wouldn’t accept any child’s excuse for poor grades. Here she silently chides Richard. One ofFlorence proudly leads sons Harmon and Steve into the synagogue for Richard’s Bar Mitzvah in 1966. Richard nervously holds his prayer book. Florence was 44.
Shay, Arthur
1966; printed 2014
When Dan realized that Florence could no longer walk, he insisted on buying us two runs of stair lifts. Here he proudly oversees Florence’s first solo on the contrivance. Four months after Florence died, the 56 year old seemingly healthy Dan died at his home of a brain aneurism.
When Dan realized that Florence could no longer walk, he insisted on buying us two runs of stair lifts. Here he proudly oversees Florence’s first solo on the contrivance. Four months after Florence died, the 56 year old seemingly healthy Dan died at his home of a brain aneurism.
Shay, Arthur
c. 2012; printed 2014
Florence was rock star Billy Corgan’s guide to published poetry. He bought many poetry books from her and was often lost in deep, probably creative, thought, hanging around Titles’ poetry shelves. Then, gradually availing himself of Florence’s renowned good advice gene, Billy began to regard her as his substitute Jewish mother. Here Florence surprised Billy with a birthday cake at one of our Sunday bagel and lox breakfasts. [...]
Florence was rock star Billy Corgan’s guide to published poetry. He bought many poetry books from her and was often lost in deep, probably creative, thought, hanging around Titles’ poetry shelves. Then, gradually availing himself of Florence’s renowned good advice gene, Billy began to regard her as his substitute Jewish mother. Here Florence surprised Billy with a birthday cake at one of our Sunday bagel and lox breakfasts. [...]
Shay, Arthur
c. 2010; printed 2014
The head of Florence’s Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association was her old friend, the renowned Lincoln scholar, Dan Weinberg. Four weeks before Florence died, Weinberg called to gingerly ask if Florence was well enough to be filmed for their organization’s archive. “Of course,” Florence said, and cheerily had her beloved care-giver Kalina Borissova dress her, put on her make-up and help her into my car for her last trip to Titles, Inc. [...]
The head of Florence’s Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association was her old friend, the renowned Lincoln scholar, Dan Weinberg. Four weeks before Florence died, Weinberg called to gingerly ask if Florence was well enough to be filmed for their organization’s archive. “Of course,” Florence said, and cheerily had her beloved care-giver Kalina Borissova dress her, put on her make-up and help her into my car for her last trip to Titles, Inc. [...]
Shay, Arthur
c. 2012; 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
Three generations! Many years earlier, in 1953, Florence dandled her daughter Lauren. Lauren’s (and Carl’s) son, Seth, is shown lighting some long ago Channukah candles- and years later in Florence’s last year-2012, Seth (and Kate) brought their first son, Moses, to her 90th birthday party to meet his now blond Great-Grandma.
Three generations! Many years earlier, in 1953, Florence dandled her daughter Lauren. Lauren’s (and Carl’s) son, Seth, is shown lighting some long ago Channukah candles- and years later in Florence’s last year-2012, Seth (and Kate) brought their first son, Moses, to her 90th birthday party to meet his now blond Great-Grandma.
Shay, Arthur
1953 and 2012; printed 2014
In Florence’s last months, when she could no longer go out to the Botanic Garden for dinner, our dear friends Josh and Signe Murphy and their daughters India and June came over with all the necessary provender and utensils, and cooked complete meals for us three or four times. When Florence died I solved some of the problem of what to do with her clothes by giving a bunch to 15 year old India. India adored Florence - and was thrilled to inherit her favorite skirt and sport jacket. [...]
In Florence’s last months, when she could no longer go out to the Botanic Garden for dinner, our dear friends Josh and Signe Murphy and their daughters India and June came over with all the necessary provender and utensils, and cooked complete meals for us three or four times. When Florence died I solved some of the problem of what to do with her clothes by giving a bunch to 15 year old India. India adored Florence - and was thrilled to inherit her favorite skirt and sport jacket. [...]
Shay, Arthur
2012; printed 2014
Florence wouldn’t accept any child’s excuse for poor grades. Here she silently chides Richard. One of Florence’s key expressions to any of us in the family, she here applies in mock outrage, to Harmon: “You’re not going there dressed like this, are you?"
Florence wouldn’t accept any child’s excuse for poor grades. Here she silently chides Richard. One of Florence’s key expressions to any of us in the family, she here applies in mock outrage, to Harmon: “You’re not going there dressed like this, are you?"
Shay, Arthur
c. 1966; printed 2014
When the hula hoop craze hit I was assigned to do the Chicago segment by Life. Florence is at top right. The little girl, Lauren, is now a grandma.
When the hula hoop craze hit I was assigned to do the Chicago segment by Life. Florence is at top right. The little girl, Lauren, is now a grandma.
Shay, Arthur
c. 1960; 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
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