Through Chuck Winans’ Lens: Documenting Blues at the Logan Center
By Chuck Winan with Logan Center Communications
“The 40+ images on the flash drive are a representation of most of the shows I’ve photographed at the Logan Center over several years… I've been compelled to come out and take pictures at the Logan Center blues events partly because I live only a few miles away in Woodlawn…You all put on a great show.” - Chuck Winans
For photographer Chuck Winans, documenting the blues has been both a passion and a practice spanning decades.
A former actor, musician, and theatre arts professional who now works in the legal field, Winans began photographing live performances in the mid-1990s. Between roughly 1995 and 2005, he devoted himself to capturing the Chicago and national blues scene, building a rich visual archive of musicians, venues, and performances that helped define the era.
Over the past several years, Winans has continued that tradition at the Logan Center. Living just a few miles away in nearby Woodlawn, he has become a familiar presence at blues events, camera in hand, documenting the energy of each performance.
Recently, Winans shared a flash drive containing more than 40 photographs taken at Logan Center blues concerts over the last 9 years —images that capture the vibrant range of artists who have performed on our stages. From powerful solos to moments between musicians and audiences, the photographs offer a visual record of the community and creativity that define blues at Logan.
We are grateful to Chuck for generously granting permission to share these images and for helping us preserve and celebrate the musicians who bring the blues to life at the Logan Center. To explore some of the past Logan Center blues programming visit: https://logancenterblues.squarespace.com/
See all of Chuck’s photos below:
