April 29, 2026 · Lina saleh

The Familiar Faces of Chicago’s Brick in “Fire and Clay”

Throughout the book, Quam expresses with great passion how brick is more than just a building material. It’s also an artistic tool that, depending on how it’s used and with what techniques, can allow for human expression to take hold of a building. It’s a single brushstroke on a canvas or a gather of flowing fabric. The choices that we make in using our materials are how we can create interest, meaning, spectacle, and beauty around us.