The region’s top publishers, authors, editors, designers, and distributors recently gathered in Saint Paul, Minnesota for the 29th Annual Midwest Book Awards Gala. The sponsor of the event, the Midwest Independent Publishing Association (MIPA), is a nonprofit association that serves the independent publishing community in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin through educational programming, networking opportunities, collaborative support, and peer recognition. According to MIPA President Suzzanne Kelley and the panel of judges, “The awards recognize creativity in content and execution, overall book quality, and the book’s unique contribution to its subject area.”

Larry Broutman’s “Chicago Eternal” won the Silver Medal in the Art / Photography / Coffee Table Books category. “Chicago Eternal” is no stranger to critical acclaim. Just last month, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) recognized this new book’s high merits with the Benjamin Franklin Awards’ Silver Medal in the Regional category. American Book Fest named “Chicago Eternal” a finalist in the Photography category of their Best Book Awards. “Chicago Eternal” has garnished praise from Chicago and national news outlets, graveyard associations, and fellow professional tombstone photographers.

In “Chicago Eternal,” the lives of Chicagoans are raised up through a photographic journey of over thirty Chicagoland cemeteries. “Chicago Eternal” celebrates the sports icons, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, politicians, and even gangsters that make up the Windy City’s colorful history. The book also brings to light everyday heroes, such as veterans and young victims of tragic fires. Historical context is provided for each of the hundreds of poignant photographs of graves, mausoleums, and monuments.

To learn more about the Midwest Independent Publishing Association’s Midwest Book Awards, please go to: mipa.org/midwest-book-awards/

To pick up your own copy of award-winning “Chicago Eternal,” visit: https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-eternal

Larry Broutman wants to make sure that the amazing stories of Chicagoans from the past are not lost to time. Through his striking photographs of their final resting places and accompany text, Broutman has documented the journeys of Chicago’s heroes, villains, and everyday folks in his book, Chicago Eternal. This newly released coffee table book of photography has already attracted plenty of media attention. Larry Broutman recently made appearances on Chicago Tonight and the WGN-TV Morning News. He did interviews on WGN Radio’s After Hours with Rick Kogan, WDCB-90.9 FM’s The Arts Section, and WGN Radio’s Steve Cochran Show.

Check out his television and radio interviews to learn why Broutman chose cemeteries for his subject matter, how the ultimate Cubs fan can eternally be a part of Wrigley Field, Al Capone’s surprising graveyard neighbors, which are the most photographed tombstones in town and why, and many more fascinating historic tales.

Chicago Tonight: “A Tombstone Tour of Chicago”

https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/04/16/tombstone-tour-chicago

WGN-TV Morning News: “Larry Broutman Talks About "Chicago Eternal"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7noOG-zT5gw

WGN Radio After Hours with Rick Kogan: “Rick Kogan Chats with Author Larry Broutman”

http://wgnradio.com/2018/04/24/rick-kogan-chats-with-author-larry-broutman/

WDCB-90.9 FM The Arts Section “New Book Captures Beauty of Chicago-Area Cemeteries”

https://soundcloud.com/wdcbnews/the-arts-section-new-book-captures-beauty-within-chicago-area-cemeteries

Steve Cochran Show, WGN Radio: “Chicago Eternal / Larry Broutman Interview”

https://chicagolighthouse.org/press/broutman-chicago-eternal-steve-cochran/

Purchase Chicago Eternal at:

https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-eternal

Chicago Eternal is the newest release in award-winning photographer and historian Larry Broutman’s collection of coffee table books of Chicago-themed photography. In this gigantic, gorgeous book of full-color haunting photographs, Broutman takes on an intimate journey through Cook County’s cemeteries.

Each picture of a tombstone, chapel, or mausoleum is accompanied by text and sometimes additional photographs or illustrations that give insight into that person’s life. Featured are politicians, sports legends, inventors, entertainers, singers, and mobsters who play heavily into Chicago’s history.

There are also soldiers and children who we may have never heard of but deserve to be remembered. This book is as touching as it is stunning.

BLURB:

This is a nostalgic, visual account of the best time and place to be a graffiti writer. In the 1980s, brothers Kenny, a.k.a. KEY, and Paul, a.k.a. CAVS, immersed themselves in the graffiti scene in the Boogie Down Bronx, dutifully photographing hundreds of pieces on now-discontinued MTA subway cars and capturing their proud comrades before, during, and after the act. “Bombing” “White Elephants” with their pilot markers and documenting them with their cameras, which they always carried, they were on the ride of their lives—until 1989, when the last painted train was removed from service. Tags by names like QUIK, IZTHEWIZ, and many others appear here in color exposures, and dozens of artists share stories and drop knowledge with no filter. A foreword by graffiti historian Henry Chalfant, coproducer of Style Wars—the seminal documentary on New York graffiti and hip-hop culture—kicks things off.

REVIEW:

I have always loved graffiti. I live near two cities that both sport a lot of graffiti. I never tire from seeing it. 

I really enjoyed this coffee table book. It is amazing what someone can create with some spray paint. I can only imagine the amount of time and dedication it took for the brothers to photograph all these subway car masterpieces. The text boxes tell the story of their jouney.

Highly recommended.

REVIEW copy provided by Edelwiess.

2017 has been declared the “Year of Public Art” in Chicago by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and for good reason. Practically every park, street corner, bridge, and storefront in the city boasts a statue, memorial, or fountain. In his book Chicago Monumental, photographer, author, and historian Larry Broutman has set out to document nearly every one of them.

In this full-color coffee table book of photography, over 250 famous and not-so-famous prime examples of Chicago’s public art are showcased. Along with his stunning photographs, Broutman includes text illuminating the cultural and historical significance of each piece of art and its artist. Some fascinating tidbits include what sets Victory Monument apart from other World War I memorials, the tragic tale behind the elephant monuments in Woodlawn Cemetery, and defining features of Chicago’s numerous Abraham Lincoln statues.

Chicago Monumental has recently picked up two book awards: a Midwest Book Award for best interior design and an IPPY (Independent Publisher) Award in the Great Lakes Nonfiction category.

TO BUY THE BOOK:

Purchase your copy of Chicago Monumental at www.everythinggoesmedia.com, Amazon, and at bookstores and gift shops in the greater Chicagoland area.

All author proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled, and Access Living.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ AUTHOR:

Celebrated photographer and author Larry Broutman has traveled the world over to capture the perfect photograph and has found Chicago to have a plethora of visual inspiration.  His projects include work with Lincoln Park Zoo, Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Children’s Memorial Hospital Clinic, and The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Broutman is a finalist in Africa Geographic Magazine's 2017 Photographer of the Year contest. He attended MIT and was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame.

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