Lori's Stories

The scene is set – 2/22/14 – returning home from Arizona to my high-rise condo off Michigan Avenue. An electrical snafu prevents elevator usage (an obvious problem for me with my mobility scooter) and so I escape to our local and historic Tremont Hotel for a couple days until access is restored.

Thanking Christine, the hotel GM, for their hospitality I mentioned I love the hotel but couldn’t remember any wall art in my room and maybe they should consider changing it up. As it turned out they were embarking on a “Tremont Transformation” and were really changing it all up!

Forward to 10/23/14 – Christine contacted me to provide a selection of some of my Chicago photography for acquisition for artwork for the hotel guestrooms and lobby. Bada bing, bada boom and 4 months later (almost 1 year to the day I first stayed there) 140 pieces of 15 images printed, matted, signed, framed and installed as the “transformed” floors were turned over! Kismet!

At the projects completion the Starwood Hotels (which the Tremont is part of) held their 2015 annual convention in Chicago this year. The attendee’s were to visit at least 2 of the Starwood brands and take a “selfie” at the “selfie station” that the hotel created. 

Christine told me her idea for the Tremont station was to “feature your art and you as a local artist” so we made a poster for that space. The poster depicts, through the lens, the pieces chosen to adorn the Tremont walls and was designed by Matthew Wright.

Christine was a pleasure to collaborate with having a clear vision on the look and feel she wanted to achieve and the direction to get there. 

Again I thank her and am honored to share with the Tremont guests and all that see, admire and wonder – a bit of what I saw and what they might see, tooling around our great city …Chicago.

Guestrooms and suites boast a sleek, new contempoary design, all-new furnishings, carpeting and wall coverings, and a soothing, neutral color palate. Each room also showcases unique artwork by local photographer, Lori Swerdlow, capturing the essence of Chicago. - 

Excerpt from Tremont Hotel Press Release