Former Taxi Driver’s Artwork to be Displayed at Blackstone
Dmitry Samarov, a former Chicago taxi driver who wrote the popular “Chicago Hack” blog and authored the book, “Hack: Stories from a Chicago Cab,” will be showcasing his art at the Blackstone branch of the Chicago Public Library beginning October 1.
The art, titled “View from a Cab,” depicts images from Samarov’s time as a taxi driver in Chicago, which lasted from 2003 until he resigned his post in June 2012.
Regarding the drawings in this showcase, Samarov wrote, “The gouache paintings of cabs were done on site at the O'Hare Airport Taxi Staging Area and the Yellow Cab garage, while the Sumi ink pieces were done from memory as illustrations” for his book and blog.
In his description for the show, Samarov wrote, “It is my hope that you'll see something you know or recognize in them from your own experience as well.”
Brenda Sawyer, who runs the “Friends of the Blackstone Library” group, set up the showing.
In an e-mail, Sawyer said Samarov’s art is “very honest,” and there’s “no glossing things over, just straightforward, honest observation.”
Furthermore, she praised him as “an observer of human nature [who] records what he sees [with] no add-ons.”
Samarov’s artwork was also recently featured at the Rainbo Club, where it has been showcased multiple times over the last five years.
Melina Ausikitis, who programs the art at the Rainbo Club, said via phone that she enjoys Samarov’s art because his “subjects are about everyday life,” and “are a window into his soul.”
“It’s been a real pleasure to see his work change over the years,” Ausikitis said.
Samarov graduated from art school in 1993, and he said, “Art’s my first love,” even though writing—on his blog and in the book—has brought him more renown thus far.
“I relate to the world by drawing and painting,” Samarov said.
He also says his dream would be to drop the writing aspect and subsist only on his artwork.
Samarov is currently putting that artistic talent to use illustrating a children’s book, but most of his pieces are related to his time driving a cab in Chicago.
Samarov said driving a cab in Chicago had a profoundly positive effect on his artwork, because the job was “great for people watching.”
“You’re not quite a person as a cabdriver; you’re part of the scenery,” Samarov expounded. “It’s like you’re not there.”
The Blackstone is located at 4904 S. Lake Park Ave., and Samarov’s 14 illustrations will appear in one of the reading rooms there through the end of October.
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