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Jyoti Srivastava  / Image courtesy Shalav Kumar

ABOUT ME

Photo-documentarian and Blogger of Public Art in Chicago

I am a photo-documentarian of sorts! Over the past few years, I have developed a unique specialization: documenting Public Art, especially in Chicago! This goes beyond just the photographs of finished sculptures; I like to meet with sculptors, visit their studios and observe them work.  I have photo-documented the labor-intensive process of fabrication and casting, the precision required installation and the joys of Opening Reception!  People’s interaction with Public Art is another of my favorite subject-matter.  I share these with anyone interested, through my blogs and website!

Over the years, I have been hired for some wonderful commissions, by organizations and individuals, for large and small scale projects, some taking a few months, and some only a few hours. I have worked for the Department of Tourism and Culture [City of Chicago], Chicago Sculpture Organization [a non-profit organization of sculptors in Chicago] and many individuals, to photograph and document installations and exhibitions. I have enjoyed each one of them and I Thank everyone who has hired me for various assignments!

All the images in this website and my various blogs have been taken by me, and are copyright © Jyoti Srivastava.
Please do not use any image , without written permission. Contact: jyoti@lensimpressions.net

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

 

How do you pronounce your name?
Jyoti Srivastava: Joe-tea  Sri-vas-ta-va.
The word Jyoti has origins in Sanskrit language and means “light”.
It is used more metaphorically than literally, like “Lead me from darkness to light” [“Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya”].
However, to clarify, J in Jyoti is NOT pronounced as J in Jalapeño. It is more like J in Joe.

 

Are you a professional photographer?
Yes and No! I take photographs. But I have no formal training in photography! In fact, technical aspects of photography do not interest me. I am more into the aesthetics of composition. And NO, I do not have a studio! Photography was, and still is, largely a hobby for me. However, over the past few years, I have got some fantastic commissions that I am very proud of! These involve both large & small scale projects, some taking months and some only a few hours. And I thank everyone who has hired me for photography or documentation purposes; cause there’s nothing better than loving your work and getting paid for it!!! Let me add here, I have a day job, which has nothing to do with photography.

 

Are you a student of art history?
NO! I have a Master’s Degree in Economics, from Patna University [India]. In fact soon after getting my Post Graduate degree, I started working as a Lecturer in Economics in N.M College [click here..] in Mumbia [India]. I worked there from 1994 to 2001, and left my job, only to come to the US in May, 2001. My interest in art or sculptures is a recent development. It started as I began exploring the City of Chicago, with a camera in hand. Maybe, maybe around 2005-06.

 

Why Public Art?
The most frequently asked question, for which I have no answer! I started blogging with photos of flowers and butterflies. No one asks me why I like flowers or butterflies. But why Public Art is a frequently asked question. All I know is that one day, I photographed a lot of sculptures in the Loop area, and started a blog, “Outdoor Sculptures in Chicago”. After some days, I changed the blog-name to “Public Art in Chicago”; which I thought was more suitable. However, I did not change the url of my blog, which still is chicago-outdoor-sculptures [ click here] . So that’s how my blog “Public Art in Chicago” began!!! Initially no one ever viewed my posts. But I enjoyed exploring the city and it’s huge collection of Public Art, and kept documenting whatever I saw through my photographs and a little information accompanying it. Slowly, over the years, it grew and evolved into a very comprehensive blog on Public Art in Chicago, with a very good daily viewership.

 

How long have I been blogging on Public Art?
Since September 2007.

 

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So I am just a girl, with a camera in hand, exploring, documenting and enjoying Public Art in Chicago.
And if someone offers me a commission, I pour my heart and soul into it…
Cause, there’s nothing better than getting paid for the work you love doing!!!

 

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