Another "Quick" Year...Photos (c) J Pritikin

Over the years, I have photographed many Gay Pride Parades. However, in recent years, I have not taken as many images. Last year I only took about 10 shots... however one of them turned "OUT" to be make a lasting impression that had an impact on my life ! It was the group from Roosevelt University, and they were holding signs. Included in this group, was the President of Roosevelt University, Charles Middelton, and he proudly proclaimed that he was gay, as well as the other's did too, as they marched in the 2009 Chicago Pride Parade. About a week after the Parade, I looked up Roosevelt's web-site, and sent Mr. Middleton a jpg, and asked if they had any plans for this year's Pride Month at the University. I suggested if they did not, I would like to recommend an exhibit of my photographs, and included a few of my (jpgs) of San Francisco during the 1970's. A short time later... I received an E-mail from President Middleton, saying that they were very interested and they would contact me. What I did not realize then, was that Roosevelt owned Gage Gallery... and had the following listed on their site...

The mission of the Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University is to show
work that is consonant with the mission of the University and its
ideals of social justice and to serve the educational and academic goals
of the University.

The Gage Gallery was founded in 2001, shortly after Roosevelt
University's expansion into the historic Gage building on Michigan
Avenue. Situated directly across the street from Chicago's Millennium
Park, the gallery has exhibited nationally and internationally known
photographers and artists, and has hosted numerous public lectures,
panel discussions and symposia. The gallery is committed to showing
contemporary work that addresses the important social issues of our time.


The Gage Gallery is affiliated with, and supported by the College of
Arts and Sciences at Roosevelt University.

At the beginning of this year, I was contacted by Michael Ensdorf, the founder and Director of the Gage gallery,and he put into motion my exhibit "SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1970s" that opened on June 3rd for PRIDE MONTH, and will run until August 13th.
I am extremely proud, especially with the Gage Gallery's MISSION STATEMENT, to have this exhibit, and for the large crowd that came to the Opening, and for the nice reviews that I have had since then. I would like to invite all of you in the Chicagoland to come on down... and if you see some old guy with a digital camera, and Rainbow colored beany with a propeller on it... please say hello... That's me! I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT CHARLES MIDDLETON, AND MICHAEL ENSDORF FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY... to exhibit my photographs, as well as all those good people behind the scenes for doing a great job of making the exhibit a reality.
Jerry Pritikin

Review: Jerry Pritikin/Gage Gallery

Review: Jerry Pritikin/Gage Gallery

Artist Jerry Pritikin's photo exhibit opener of San Francisco in the 197...

David in Chicago Flag Day 6/14/10 (c) J Pritikin

This is one of those "Best made plans of Mice and Men"... except there were no plans, and the results could not of been better, if we had. I was at the Gallery, to meet with the President of Roosevelt University. It was he who helped to make my exhibit at the Gage Gallery happened. He was unable to come to the Opening on the 3rd, so I offered him a tour of my exhibit when he was available. It turned out to be on June 14th, Flag Day. I arrived a little early... and while waiting for him, into the Gallery came a tourist named David. I found out that when I asked him how he had heard of the exhibit. David, said he picked up a Gage Gallery
postcard at the Chicago Cultural Center... a few blocks north on Michigan Avenue. I have to admit when I recommended that the Gallery put cards there... I told him I expected someone, and if he would like... I would give him a quick downtown tour of Chicago when I was finished. When Charles Middleton arrived, I excused myself for the next 45 minutes. David and I began making like a tourist. We covered a lot of ground... and I talked him into taking a Brown line "el" to the end of the line and back. We wound up at my place, then we walked over to the lake front... it was cool and overcast... but it made for some interesting images. We walked up to North Avenue Beach. We then went to a pizzia place, and enjoyed a thin pizza. He returned to my place... to interview me for a school project. we watched the sun come out of the fog, before it turned dark. This day made me feel like a day out of my past in San Francisco. Many of times, I manged to have memorable moments... without any plans... and this was my latest... and the first in many years.

David in Chicago Flag Day 6/14/10 (c) J Pritikin

Lee Balterman Celebrates Opening at Daiter's Gallery and 90th Birthday

It was magic, seeing Lee, so rediant and greeting so many long time friends for his Opening Night, at Chicago's Daiter Gallery.
Lee was overwhelmed by a gift he received from Mayor Richard J. Daley. Lee, was almost in tears hearing the words that the Mayor had sent Lee. Balterman will be 90, on July 6, was facing the cameras for a change. Lee's fans and friends were listening to some of his great one liners. "He could of been a big leager, if for not one thing... he had no talent!" When it comes to talent with a camera... Lee, has over 50 years shooting events, found in history books and publications like Sports Illustrated, Time/ Life, Forbes Magazine, and the N.Y.Times. and celebities like Mohamad Ali, Presidents Truman and Nixon, Ernie Banks, Carmella Hatigan and the Bleacher Preacher. Lee was a fixture on Rush Street, at Comiskey and the Friendly Confines and Stadiums.

lee Balterman is Back, again at Daiter's...Chicago

Opening at the Gage/Jerry Pritikin's "SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1970s"

If Waldo wore an Interseller Propeller Beany Cap, he would stand OUT in any crowd. I have been wearing mine since 1981.
I am sure my propeller has turned over a million or more spins since then. In the close up from the back of my head... That is Lee Balterman,the former TIME-LIFE photographer, his show at Daiter's Openens on the 11th, next Friday. In the background is Videogapher Edgar Lenze, and the bearded guy owns a "Rick Shaw" service around the "Friendly Confines".He used to make my friend Carmella Hartigan feel like a Queen, as she blew kisses and waved her hand at the pre game crowd... about the turn of the last century.These images are from Bullet Bob...

32 years later, I admit I shot him,and had the pics to prove it!

I enjoyed the other night's Opening at Roosevelt University's Gage Gallery. At least 150 people came to the Exhibit. It's alway good to hear nice things, and it went that way for 3 hours. However, for me the highlight of the evening,happened when a nice looking young man, pulled out a couple of photographs, and said I shot him 32 years ago! I admit I did not recognize him, but once he told me his name... I instantly recreate a couple of well spent weeks, that started in Chicago and ended 2 weeks later in San Francisco.It was in 1978. That was a magic year for me.

I enjoyed meeting someone OUT of my past... that is still alive! There were 2 other guys at the Opening, that I thought were dead, showed up for the Opening. Here are the images that "Mike" gave to me... The shot with all the buildings in the background was taken from "Pritikin's Peak", however on the map it is called "Corona Heights". The other is taken under the Golden Gate Bridge. He promises to show more images that I took soon. Now that's a switch... Someone showing me, my pictures!