2025 05 25

Road consruction. Galesburg, Illinois. March, 2025. © Clayton Hauck

Today was our second Realm photobook popup. The response thus far has been very good and has us excited about the future potential for our ideas.

Loosely speaking, for a few years now myself and Jack Garland have been obsessing over the idea that Chicago needs a shop dedicated to photography — specifically photobooks. The aim is to open up a physical space, once we can prove there is a demand for this through popping up (what the kids do, these days), that will sell photobooks, zines, and other photography merch, while also hosting openings, gatherings and workshops. The exact concept is still being formulated and will depend on the realities of things, namely: rent, labor costs, government bureaucracy, and assessed demand. That said, considering how the first two popups have gone (we have three more now scheduled), I think it’s safe to say you will be hearing a lot more from me about all of this on this here blog in the coming months.

Enjoy the holiday, y’all.

-Clayton