On this second furlough, I thought I’d pass a little time sharing some photos from my maternal grandfather, William Stewart, who owned a art studio in Bronzeville from 1946 to 2001. He died in 2006. He taught me a lot about this city & it’s people.
On this second furlough, I thought I’d pass a little time sharing some photos from my maternal grandfather, William Stewart, who owned a art studio in Bronzeville from 1946 to 2001. He died in 2006. He taught me a lot about this city & it’s people.
On this second furlough, I thought I’d pass a little time sharing some photos from my maternal grandfather, William Stewart, who owned a art studio in Bronzeville from 1946 to 2001. He died in 2006. He taught me a lot about this city & it’s people.
On this second furlough, I thought I’d pass a little time sharing some photos from my maternal grandfather, William Stewart, who owned a art studio in Bronzeville from 1946 to 2001. He died in 2006. He taught me a lot about this city & it’s people.
On this second furlough, I thought I’d pass a little time sharing some photos from my maternal grandfather, William Stewart, who owned a art studio in Bronzeville from 1946 to 2001. He died in 2006. He taught me a lot about this city & it’s people.
Bill Stewart was born in Memphis in 1915 and grew to be a painter. He won admission to Howard Univ., but couldn’t raise enough money for tuition. His local elected official refused to consider him for a scholarship, so after graduation, he headed to Chicago in the 1930s.
Bill Stewart was born in Memphis in 1915 and grew to be a painter. He won admission to Howard Univ., but couldn’t raise enough money for tuition. His local elected official refused to consider him for a scholarship, so after graduation, he headed to Chicago in the 1930s.
Bill Stewart was born in Memphis in 1915 and grew to be a painter. He won admission to Howard Univ., but couldn’t raise enough money for tuition. His local elected official refused to consider him for a scholarship, so after graduation, he headed to Chicago in the 1930s.
Bill Stewart was born in Memphis in 1915 and grew to be a painter. He won admission to Howard Univ., but couldn’t raise enough money for tuition. His local elected official refused to consider him for a scholarship, so after graduation, he headed to Chicago in the 1930s.
Bill Stewart was born in Memphis in 1915 and grew to be a painter. He won admission to Howard Univ., but couldn’t raise enough money for tuition. His local elected official refused to consider him for a scholarship, so after graduation, he headed to Chicago in the 1930s.
He arrived in Chicago during hard times and had a difficult time getting work. Eventually he got a job with the Federal WPA, where he met some of the city’s upcoming artists (work slip below) #FunFact: He was once interviewed by the FBI who were looking for subversives.
He arrived in Chicago during hard times and had a difficult time getting work. Eventually he got a job with the Federal WPA, where he met some of the city’s upcoming artists (work slip below) #FunFact: He was once interviewed by the FBI who were looking for subversives.
He arrived in Chicago during hard times and had a difficult time getting work. Eventually he got a job with the Federal WPA, where he met some of the city’s upcoming artists (work slip below) #FunFact: He was once interviewed by the FBI who were looking for subversives.
He arrived in Chicago during hard times and had a difficult time getting work. Eventually he got a job with the Federal WPA, where he met some of the city’s upcoming artists (work slip below) #FunFact: He was once interviewed by the FBI who were looking for subversives.
He shifted from painting to photography and met many prominent artists in Chicago and was once an instructor at the South Side Community Art Center. Below are photos from its Artists and Models Ball in 1940.
He shifted from painting to photography and met many prominent artists in Chicago and was once an instructor at the South Side Community Art Center. Below are photos from its Artists and Models Ball in 1940.
He shifted from painting to photography and met many prominent artists in Chicago and was once an instructor at the South Side Community Art Center. Below are photos from its Artists and Models Ball in 1940.
He shifted from painting to photography and met many prominent artists in Chicago and was once an instructor at the South Side Community Art Center. Below are photos from its Artists and Models Ball in 1940.
He shifted from painting to photography and met many prominent artists in Chicago and was once an instructor at the South Side Community Art Center. Below are photos from its Artists and Models Ball in 1940.
Those of you who follow me may know my grandfather’s first studio was in the same building as the Rhumboogie Cafe. It was here he became friendly with boxing champ Joe Louis and other movers/shakers. He did portraits and glamour shots for black people, which was rare.
Those of you who follow me may know my grandfather’s first studio was in the same building as the Rhumboogie Cafe. It was here he became friendly with boxing champ Joe Louis and other movers/shakers. He did portraits and glamour shots for black people, which was rare.
Those of you who follow me may know my grandfather’s first studio was in the same building as the Rhumboogie Cafe. It was here he became friendly with boxing champ Joe Louis and other movers/shakers. He did portraits and glamour shots for black people, which was rare.
Those of you who follow me may know my grandfather’s first studio was in the same building as the Rhumboogie Cafe. It was here he became friendly with boxing champ Joe Louis and other movers/shakers. He did portraits and glamour shots for black people, which was rare.
Those of you who follow me may know my grandfather’s first studio was in the same building as the Rhumboogie Cafe. It was here he became friendly with boxing champ Joe Louis and other movers/shakers. He did portraits and glamour shots for black people, which was rare.
Funny side note about THIS woman: I met her back in say 2004/05 when my grandfather fell inside a bank and cut his head. This woman was inside a raised an alarm, talking about how important he was. He didn’t remember her, but weeks later, she sent him this photo to remind him.
Granddad used his painting background to teach himself how to apply makeup for the camera lighting, which was instrumental in helping glamorize the hardened working people of Bronzeville at that time. His clients couldn’t believed how they looked after he worked his magic.
The thing I found amazing about him was him optimism despite being a dark skinned man from the South in the wrong era, who still had great hope for the future. That said, he had all the usual setbacks, including that time the Army him THIS photo job that they later withdrew.
Still, my grandfather preserved and taught my mom all of life’s hardest lessons while passing on hope.l Because of him, I learned to have a good debate, how to drink properly and that I should always ask questions. The folks of his generation just wanted respect. ✌🏽
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