On Friday, Oct. 3, a pair of contemporary dancers flowed through Mark Hawk’s exhibition at the Apothecary EO. From moments of intimacy to sporadic explosions of chaos, the performance served as a physical interpretation of Hawk’s latest collection – an exploration of healing through trauma.
Hawk, a 2025 photography alum, showcased a variety of works and mediums for Andersonville’s Arts Weekend. Not only does this include traditional inkjet prints, but also cyanotypes and patchwork collages that are stitched together on fabric.
One section of Hawk’s weekend exhibition was from his photobook, “Sixteen Minutes of Summer,” a series of photos focusing on the waves of Lake Michigan.
“They’re all just about looking at all the different details and the way things change in the photos, and how things change over time in our lives,” Hawk said. “They might be small, but over time they really make a difference.”
Brandon DiCriscio, one of the choreographers of the event, had performers intentionally dance on top of the Lake Michigan prints in order to evoke the feeling of “walking on glass floors and looking down into water.”
Another series in the exhibition, “Faggot,” reclaims the derogatory slur by returning the word to its original meaning — a bundle of twigs. Hawk said he personified himself in the series, using the bundles to showcase his past struggles and growth as a person.
“This whole story became a way to cope from the teasing and the people,” Hawk said.
The still-life photos showed the bundles of twigs wrapped in materials like ribbons and bandages. Hawk also used verses from the Bible that condemned homosexuality to wrap the twigs before using the twigs themselves.
Monica Zacknoun, an Uptown resident, was heavily engaged with the collection when she first saw it. For her, the progression of the photos “seems like shedding those societal expectations and hindrances, and coming back to life.”
Hawk’s connection to his art and identity traces back to his adolescence, where he first began to discover his sexuality. At the time, he dreamed of working for Vogue but doubted his ability, believing the goal was out of reach. Years later, he moved past that mindset.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawk rediscovered his passion for photography, causing him to pursue his studies at Harold Washington College and Columbia College Chicago.
“I think I was pushed to just take [my work] further and further,” Hawk said.
He attributes much of his growth at Columbia to the feedback and criticism from his peers, along with encouragement from faculty members and staff members, including Verser Engelhard, an associate professor in the School of Visual Arts, and Robert Linkiewicz, assistant director of digital facilities.
“He was very mature, very driven and he really exploited the facilities to the best that anyone could,” said Linkiewicz, who Hawk worked with in the darkroom facilities. “We’re always looking for people like him to work in the facilities because that rubs off on the students too.”
Carmen Ordonez, a fellow 2025 photography graduate, has known Hawk since community college and admires Hawk because of both his work ethic and his diverse style. The two now rent a photo studio in Pilsen and collaborate on commercial projects.
“Whenever he needs somebody to assist him, I’m there for him, and whenever I need somebody, he’s there for me,” Ordonez said.
Many of the pieces he displayed for Andersonville’s Art Weekend were previously a part of his solo exhibition at Columbia’s Hokin Gallery in 2024, titled “Disassociating.”
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
