Dave Jordano

From the book “Articles of Faith” storefront Churches of Chicago

Dave Jordano (b. 1948, Detroit, Michigan) received his degree in photography from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit in 1974.  Moving to Chicago in 1977 he established a successful freelance photography studio and for 30 years he specializing in food and product photography, shooting major campaigns for national and international clients.  Since his return to fine art/documentary photography, he received the Curator’s Choice Award in the Houston Center for Photography’s annual membership competition in 2004. and was a finalist in Photolucia’s 2006 “Critical Mass” national book award. His first book, “Articles of Faith”, was published by The Center for American Places at Columbia College in 2009.  His work is included in The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

About the Photograph:

“Sometimes pictures are so obvious that they can often sit lurking in the corner of your view without notice.  While working on a three and one-half year book project documenting the interior spaces of Chicago’s south-side African American storefront churches I noticed this young girl sitting on a pew playing with a piece of paper, quietly passing the time while watching me work.  Minutes went by as she continued to fold and unfolded the piece of paper.  It was an odd shape so I asked her what it was. It turned out to be a choir song sheet that was torn into the  shape of a heart. All of the songs that members of this church felt were important to sing were indelibly marked on this precious piece of paper.  Artifacts like this one, while seemingly insignificant, help define the very core of the cultural and social identity, shared interest, and spiritual awareness of a particular congregation.  Their presence defines and articulates the collective unity of the church through their continued use and preservation.  I wanted to capture the individual personality of these unique churches mainly through the documentation of their adornment, object placement, and decoration.  I asked her to display the paper for me and she collaborated willingly by holding it with the most delicate grip of her fingers.”

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