Samantha Clark is behind the "Chicago Neighborhoods Project." [Samantha Clark]
CHICAGO — When Samantha Clark moved to Chicago a few months ago, she really wanted to see Chicago.
So the Hyde Park resident began the daunting task of attempting to visit and photograph all 77 city neighborhoods.
Clark expects the undertaking — dubbed the "Chicago Neighborhoods Project" — to take at least two years.
"It keeps me motivated and engaged in my photography," said Clark, a freelance writer and photographer who had been a commercial Realtor in her former home, Albuquerque, N.M. "I thought this would motivate me to see all of Chicago. When my family was looking to move here, there was a lot of information about some neighborhoods, but I didn't really know about the rest."
Clark has been to about 10 neighborhoods so far, including Ukrainian Village on Saturday and Bridgeport over Christmas break. She hopes to visit three neighborhoods a month, spending several hours walking around each one to document each area's architecture.
"It's really helping me learn the neighborhoods," said Clark, who sometimes takes her husband, Eric Rajala, or 18-year-old daughter, Lynn, with her. "If you just drive through, you won't remember where you've been.
"I'm just trying to showcase the neighborhoods," she added. "We tend to focus on the very monumental architecture. The regular, day-to-day stuff doesn't really get noticed."
Check out some of the neighborhoods Clark has visited below:
Theater in Logan Square. Chicago Neighborhoods Project pic.twitter.com/snq0jpGjIn
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) January 2, 2016
Photo of church in Bridgeport. Chicago Neighborhoods Project pic.twitter.com/9YFqg4gs9P
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) January 1, 2016
Gate in Chinatown. Architecture on the South Side. Chicago Neighborhoods Project pic.twitter.com/rtgtv5dIy2
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) December 30, 2015
Video of Pullman https://t.co/UPsDcq9X4U Chicago Neighborhoods Project pic.twitter.com/sTNxNeiRQm
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) December 28, 2015
Enjoying the holiday season with a visit to Bridgeport. Chicago Neighborhoods Project. pic.twitter.com/9DMBNNIPEd
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) December 28, 2015
Pullman home #urbanexplorers #Chicago #chitecture #chiphotos pic.twitter.com/mddGonutvX
— Samantha Clark (@ChiNeighbor) December 10, 2015
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