Opening Reception Jun 10th, 5-7pm

Steven Schwab was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He received his law degree from Northwestern University and is both a practicing attorney and businessman. Today he also is a self-taught photographer and multi-media artist.

In 1977 he started a company, Sassafras Enterprises, Inc., with a “Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Pan,” selling retailers like Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table and other retailers around the world, that continues to this day. From 1988 – 2007, he and his wife, Nancy, operated a retail store, “Sassafras”, at the Lighthouse Place Mall.

An avid Cubs fan, Mr. Schwab brought his camera to Wrigley Field and captured exciting moments in the game. In 1998, he took the definitive photographs of Sammy Sosa’s 61st and 62nd home runs and those photographs were selected by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for their permanent collection in Cooperstown, NY. The photographs were also published in Baseball: 100 Classic Moments in the History of the Game, as well as numerous other books. In addition, these photographs were exhibited at the Chicago Historical Society in 1999 and the photograph of the 61st home run was painted by a famous New York artist, Andy Jurinko, on a 7’ X 7’ canvas for an exhibition and made into 600 numbered lithographs.

In addition to sports photography, Mr. Schwab can be found on weekends with his camera, capturing the beauty of Beverly Shores, from his photographs of egrets and great blue herons, sunsets and impending storms over the lake.

Artist Statement

This exhibit, entitled “Whimsy” reflects Mr. Schwab’s never ending pursuit of his childhood dreams (he still only likes to see comedies or animated films). The dioramas take Mr. Schwab’s photographs and often add a “whimsy” or a joke to the scene.

Mr. Schwab lives in Chicago and Beverly Shores. He has four children, six grandchildren, and has been married for 32 years to Nancy Schwab who also is his business partner.