individual video readings

Killed on July 27, 1919 at about 4pm
Nancy Goede, reader

Killed on July 27, 1919 at 6pm
Nancy Goede, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 4:50pm
Natalie Szabo, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 5:30pm
David Rakov, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 5:35pm
Kristen Swenson, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 5:55pm
Gregory Sandahl, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 6:58pm
Christopher Haite, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 7:10pm
Theo Economides, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 7:30pm
Ronald Browne, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 7:30pm,
Ilse Miller, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 7:30pm
Rebecca Daalman, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 8:00pm
Jahan Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 8pm
KG Price, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 8pm
Christophe Preissing, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 8pm
Jennifer Simokaitis, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 8pm
KG Price, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 9 or 9:35pm
Mahala Miller, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 9:40pm
Bronwyn Schumaker, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 9:30 or 10pm
Natalie Szabo, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 9:30 or 10pm
KG Price, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Killed on July 28, 1919 at 11:30pm
Charles Nolley, reader

Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park, Nancy Goede, Pastor
July 27 – October 31, 2019

Christophe Preissing, concept and sound composition
David Sundry, sculpture and visual design
Hugh Sato, mechanical fabrication and programming

Blood Lines is a metaphor for the “deadline” that separated Chicago’s Black Belt from the white immigrant communities of Packingtown at the beginning of the 20^th century. The installation remembers those who died in the uprising of that “red summer.” The 38 deaths attributed to the riot are represented by 15 long wires placed in the center aisle to separate Augustana Lutheran Church’s nave into two parts. Each wire is connected to a mechanical activation system, a wooden sculpture, and sound resonator. The sustained sound of the wires are tuned and timed to correspond to the distance in space and time from Eugene Williams’ drowning on July 27 to each subsequent death. The timing of deaths—from July 27 through August 5—has been compressed into one hour. Long silences reflect the rolling violence and lulls in the killings.

Blood Lines – Online Video Installation

In the 2019 Blood Lines installation, we remembered those killed in the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. At two performances, Hyde Park community members read the name, age, race, and time, place, and manner of death of each person killed in sequence and in time with the long wire installation.

For the online video installation, we are seeking a diverse group of readers to recreate an interactive version of the Blood Lines installation. During this time of social distancing and cultural change we invite you to participate in this project by video recording yourself reading the name of one or more persons killed in the 1919 uprising. Readings will be combined with sound from the original long wire installation at Augustana and a video with maps, historical newspaper accounts and images, a timeline, images from the live installation, and current images from the neighborhood where the uprising occurred.

As of March 2021, we have over 50 video readings. NON:op will continue to accept video readings for Blood Lines in order to create an interactive experience of the installation.

Click on PARTICIPATE above for detailed information on how to participate.

Click on RESPONSES above to view all of the current video readings.

Click on DOCUMENTS above to find out more about the 1919 Chicago race riot.