Evanston’s newest Black business owners launch Howard Street studio

Glenn’s proudest moment as a photographer has been getting to sell his own pieces at an art show. He submitted two pieces to this particular show: “One was ‘Pro-choice,’ the other was ‘No Trump.’ The pro-choice piece sold in one day,” he said.

He saw these images posted on a parking meter, and they were spontaneous shots. The pro-choice print proved to be his most popular, as two other individuals also asked to buy it.

Shot of a Chicago parking meter. Credit: Dante Glenn

In general, Glenn’s passion for street photography comes from witnessing struggle. “Seeing people and how they overcome hardship … just to see the resilience of people, especially people of color, make life good for themselves,” he explained.

Obviously, national politicians and media outlets often portray Chicago as dangerous, especially South Side neighborhoods like Englewood. Glenn knows how easy it is to get trapped in a bad situation, but he emphasized that not everyone’s experience is the same. 

“You can overcome anything by seeing people come out of these situations … because some people make it completely out the hood where it’s nothing but success in their lives later on down the line,” Glenn said. “Everybody’s not stuck.”

Glenn’s photography brings the neighborhood’s history to life. These environments weren’t always poor. 

“I love shooting abandoned storefronts where businesses used to be, because it shows the history of the neighborhood. … We did once have our own, before gentrification and tax rates,” he said. 

“Me and my sons were looked at differently coming out of our home when we lived in Lincoln Park. … We were looked at like we were doing something suspect. … It didn’t run us off, but the long term goal for us, as parents, is to ensure our sons are in environments that are considered the best, to put them in situations where they can be successful. … We want our sons to elevate themselves as Black men.”

Gas prices in Lincoln Park. Credit: Dante Glenn

As a man who is learning and growing everyday, Glenn said he’s pushing to break the stereotypes of Black men and the prejudice he and his family have experienced living in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, where they lived for three years. They have now moved to Evanston, where Glenn-Francellno grew up. 

He said his family gives him the drive to achieve greatness, especially his wife: “She inspires me because she’s so creative, and if I hadn’t met her … I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Coming home to Evanston

Glenn-Francellno has always had access to art. She attended Walker Elementary and Chute Middle schools before going to Evanston Township High School. She was always inspired to learn, something she said she got from her mother. 

The community Glenn-Francellno has built in Evanston is one of a kind. Though resources and access to them can sometimes be scarce, she has still made a way for herself and her family. “I’m self-made,” she said. “I go to work everyday and everything I have, attributes to what I’ve done myself.” 

Glenn-Francellno is an artist. She DJs, does photography and works for Related Management as a property manager. The money she earns from her management job is how she funds her photography work. She learned photography at ETHS, and was given her mother’s camera. She immediately fell in love with it.

“I would do women’s makeup and take photos of them when I was first starting out,” she said. But her favorite subject nowadays is her husband.

A photo of Dante Glenn taken by Tasha Glenn-Francellno on display at their new studio.

She’s also sold many of her own pieces, like her husband. “Dream Big B***h” was a huge piece for her. She created it during a period of low energy to remind herself not to give up. She uses her ability to survive as fuel for her work.

Art by Tasha Glenn-Francellno.

They’ve opened other studios before, but this is their first time having a space in Evanston. “The other spaces I saw didn’t feel right. I wanted to connect back to my community … the people that gave to me,” Glenn-Francellno said.

The couple hosted a vendor market in early December. They even provided a promotion to those who made a purchase — whoever bought a product received a complimentary photoshoot. “I feel like this event was a great introduction to upcoming community events supporting local creative small businesses,” said Glenn-Francellno. She hopes to get more traffic and generate more revenue for the vendors.

The Glenns have a two-year lease. To build the studio, they had to repaint and even knock a wall down. They’re hoping to give opportunities to artists, especially those who are underprivileged, to showcase their work. 

Glenn-Francellno is glad to be back at home in Evanston. “It’s nice having a sense of belonging and connection to the people I love,” she said.