Teresa Xie's Photo Blog

In a great city like Chicago, it's easy to find sky-high buildings and geometric structures. However, the search becomes harder if the architect is a woman. This photo-essay showcases the work that women architects have done to make their mark in Chicago. Campus North Residential Commons, Jeanne Gang (2016) Union Station Transit Center, Cindy Muller (2016) Aqua, Jeanne Gang (2009) CTA Cermak-McCormick Station,  Carol Ross Barney (2015)

When Hurricane Marina tore through Puerto Rico, she spared no one. Her destruction left many without electricity, family, a home, and water supply. A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting Puerto Rico, experiencing just a small piece of its culture, people, and natural wonders. These photos aim to show Puerto Rico's beauty even though this disastrous time.    

There was so much beauty all around me in my recent trip to Prague and Berlin that I found it hard to resist trying to capture as much as I could. Prague, a city riddled with history, appears to me as a painting. As I walk on the cobblestone streets, the buildings to my left and right scream pigmented reds, blues, and yellows. Music rings from gothic style churches. Berlin is a different story. On one street I see buildings who have seen and survived the war, but a few blocks down, only the most modern of architecture is visible. The effort to recognize, not destroy history, and to look towards the future is apparent to anyone experiencing Berlin for either the hundredth, or first time. These photos aim to show the beauty of Prague and Berlin, from my eyes.

In addition to doing artistic photography and photo essays on social justice, I'm also an Editor for the Photojournalism staff at U-High. As a photojournalist, my job is to take photos of the U-High Midway and Yearbook. Here are a few of my featured pieces.  

Since an explosion in 1977, the 15-story grain silos located on 2860 S. Damen Ave. have been rendered useless. However, exploring inside the abandoned property reveals a different story. Artists around the city have used the Silos as a hub for graffiti, painting, and sculptures made out of everyday items. Although exploring the Silos is technically illegal, it doesn't stop curious city explorers from walking on the side of a highway to this hotspot.