Chicago Fire Escapes: Art for Art's Sake

FIRE ESCAPE RAILS FOR ART'S SAKE

David Elving has created a striking collection of photographs of Chicago fire escapes, in a project that he calls "Escaperail." Elving gives this description of his photographic essay about this overlooked "vestige" of the urban experience:

"Art for art's sake, that's why I created escaperail.com. An often overlooked vestige of the urban experience, the fire escape is often seen (if seen at all) as nothing more than an eyesore - an unpleasant side effect of living within the confines of a city.

But through the lens of a camera, the fire escape becomes something more. a fascinating assemblage of geometry, light and shadow, it becomes an object of beauty. It is to this aspect of the fire escape that escaperail.com devotes its energy.

Started in Chicago, a city known for great fires, I hope to document the fire escape in all it's forms, all over the world. As the fire escape is no longer a part of modern architecture, this documentary project takes on a certain sense of urgency."