Carl Street Studios invitation

Edgar Miller
1927
Linocut print
L 14, W 23 cm

This block printed card was made by Edgar Miller for the announcement and invitation to the opening exhibition at the Carl Street Studios in 1927. In Miller's typical manner, the letters are meticulously (but not perfectly) hand-carved.

The map portion of the card shows interested guests how to reach the new artistic enclave, just north of the once-bohemian neighborhood known as Towertown, in what is now Old Town's West Burton Place Historic District. Popular landmarks including the Red Star Inn on Germania Place and Clark Street and the Number 44 bus that runs along LaSalle Avenue are marked.

Instructions read: “This is the way to find Carl Street and also some of the means of transportation. If these fail call Diversey 0330.” The map, like the carved lettering, is somewhat askew, as Miller in all likelihood hurriedly carved out this woodblock print just days before the exhibition date. Miller would have stamped out several hundred cards as flyers to disseminate throughout the Towertown community.

The invitation also contains the following text advertising the exhibition:

“John Norton ● Sol Kogen ● Edgar Britten ● Margaret Oatway and Edgar Miller will welcome your presence at their studios and gallery at 155 Carl Street where an informal exhibition and housewarming will be held on Saturday December Third between Two and Nine PM”