“Let the academics moan, but history should be taught on the streets, not just in the classroom… it's a more visceral and intimate experience.”
            – Rick Kogan

The responsibility of recording Chicago at the turn of the millennium was monumental, capturing the city’s vibrant life in all its joy, anger, and peaceful moments. By moving through neighborhoods, creating intimate connections with Chicagoans, and spending time on the streets, the photographers and videographers produced familiar and honest depictions of life in 2000 by seeking out and building connections with others, allowing them to photograph what the rest of us are not privy to. Each artist had a specific field of interest or perspective that influenced their work as they recorded these histories, and the culmination of their art styles is one of the unique strengths of this collection. 

The turn of the millennium was a time marked by uncertainty. There was a feeling of the unknown, beginning with the Y2K scare. Many were nervous about what a new millennium would bring. Nine months after CITY 2000 was completed, the 9/11 attacks occurred, underscoring how fleeting documenting history can be and the rapid pace of change. 

CITY 2000 was conceived as a time capsule for future generations of Chicagoans. It preserves a snapshot of life in the year 2000, a year that now feels both distant and familiar. In many ways, life today mirrors that time, yet in others, it is irrevocably different. The project is essentially a family photo album of the city – each image in the collection is informed by the one beside it. CITY 2000 immortalizes these similarities and differences that shape our experiences, revealing the beauty in our everyday lives.