Tony Fitzpatrick, The Apostles of Humboldt Park Book Review

When I picked up this book, I had no idea that there would be more to it than some beautiful collages by the well known Chicago artist, Tony Fitzpatrick. While the book is full of those, there are also myriad poems, poignant in their celebration of this slice of greenery on Chicago’s west side.

It’s not a thick tome, but the contents are of very high quality. Both the poems and the collages bear closer scrutiny, full of imagery literal and figurative. This is a book you could come back to again and again and see something new each time. If you live in Chicago or are a Chicago native, it’s both exciting and depressing to see all the Chicago establishments included in the artwork. Sadly, many are gone, though not all.

The book may be available at your local bookstore, but it’s always better to go to the source. Buy it on Tony’s website and then go pick it up so you can meet him. He’s a friendly guy and if you can get him going on his various exploits, you’ll be treated to some amazingly entertaining stories.

Tony Fitzpatrick, The Apostles of Humboldt Park (I, Apostle), Published by The Dime, 2021

(*Check out this YouTube Short - a reading of one of Tony’s poems: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6vXV1oe7AVg)