Michael Weinstein

A devotee of prestige from below, Paul D'Amato was seduced by Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, insinuated himself into its life, won the trust of its residents and spent fourteen years documenting them in intimate color photographs. A lover of his subjects and their environment, D'Amato can sometimes turn sentimental, but the selection from his voluminous portfolio in this show accentuates the bad and the ugly, with a nod here and there to the good. In a venture into gonzo photography, D'Amato got so close to a gang-initiation beating that his presence becomes part of the event; Weegee would be jealous. For unadulterated pathos, look at D'Amato's shot of a little girl sitting alone in a shopping cart in a filthy lot bawling her lungs out amidst scrapped tires and in front of a sign reading "No Cash Refunds." (Michael Weinstein)

Paul D’Amato shows at Stephen Daiter Gallery, 311 West Superior, (312)787-3350. Through July 28.
(2007-06-26)

Also by Michael Weinstein

Tip of the Week
Continuing her welcome project of bringing the latest Chinese photography to Chicago, gallerist Julie Walsh gives Mo Yi's intimate look at his native city Tianjin its American debut
(2007-06-22)

Tip of the Week
Savage's ethereal yet precisely delineated, glowing images of diaphanous fancy dresses are a feast for the eyes and tease us to wish we could touch their subtle textures
(2007-06-12)

Tip of the Week
Symbolism rules the road in today's Chicago photography and Suzette Bross' color images of trucks speeding by on freeways capture the spirit of the times
(2007-06-05)

Tip of the Week
Taking the recent photographic fascination with rubble to its limits, Danielle Paz wanders through Chicago in search of dumps where she shoots mounds of stone, slag, dirt and trash in color
(2007-05-29)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-22)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-15)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-08)

Tip of the Week
(2007-04-24)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-20)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-13)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-06)

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