While the machinations of the Illinois government can make even the most hardened political observers tear their hair out, Chicago has always thrived in spite of the failures of those at the top—corrupt governments come and go, but there will always be new citizens ready to remake their environment. That truth is the beating heart of No Small Plans, a graphic novel published by the Chicago Architecture Foundation that shows teenagers living through the city’s shortcomings as they contemplate Chicago’s possibilities.
What’s most remarkable about No Small Plans is the thoughtful rendering of Chicago’s constantly flowing energy. Both the city itself and its teenage denizens are always on the move in the kind of commotion that can easily fade into the background of daily life. Whether the book is capturing the clattering of the el or the kinetic frenzy of a Logan Square antigentrification punk show, or zooming out to a bird’s-eye view, as Burnham’s plan frequently did, the reader is reminded of the vitality that permeates Chicago life.
By Gabrielle Lyon, Kayce Bayer, Chris Lin, Devin Mawdsley, and Deon Reed (Chicago Architecture Foundation)
