A visual masterpiece for the Five Cities Baroque Festival

In 2026, Rex marked his return to Decatur, Illinois, after four decades with a spectacular commemorative print for The Five Cities Baroque Festival. His design masterfully captures the epic scale of George Frideric Handel’s monumental oratorio, “Israel in Egypt,” visually interpreting its intricate double-chorus and iconic three-trombone score. This grand artwork perfectly sets the stage for the festival’s season finale—a timeless meditation on “oppression, redemption, and freedom”—led by Conductor Nate Widelitz at the Decatur First United Methodist Church.

In memoriam of remarkable pianist Katherine DeMoss Brown, a founding supporter of the Five Cities Baroque Foundation & Festival.

Rex Parker’s print series for WJE earned the prestigious Summit International Creative Award

WJE Communications and Marketing is proud to announce that artist Rex Parker and WJE’s Jamie Wild have been honored with a Summit Creative Award for the “WJE Poster Series.”

The initiative originated as a unique commemorative piece for the award-winning Miami-Dade Courthouse exterior restoration project. Driven by Jamie’s strategic vision and Rex’s distinctive artistic execution, the inaugural poster won the 2018 SMPS National Award of Merit and was inducted into the Chicago Design Archive in 2019. To date, the highly successful collaboration has produced 25 distinct prints highlighting 14 major WJE projects.

For over thirty years, the Summit International Awards has celebrated excellence in marketing, advertising, and design. As one of the longest-standing independent award organizations, they recognize standout creative work from around the globe, with participants from more than sixty countries and across five continents.

Three cities. Three eras. Three architectural icons. This exclusive poster series celebrates a trio of historic masterpieces:

The Ramova Theatre (Chicago): A 1929 Spanish Revival jewel by Meyer O. Nathan, blending an ornate terra-cotta facade and a classic 1944 neon marquee with rugged structural steel.

THE US Grant (San Diego): A 1910 Beaux-Arts masterpiece designed by Harrison Albright. As part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, this iconic landmark beautifully marries historic grandeur with contemporary luxury.

The Eastern Columbia Building (Los Angeles): Claud Beelman’s 1930 Art Deco “Jewel of Downtown,” defined by its vibrant turquoise terra-cotta, sunburst accents, and majestic clock tower.

This Jazz Age print celebrates WJE’s award winning restoration of the Old Cook County Hospital

This poster celebrates Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc. for their award winning renovation of the Old Cook County Hospital. The rebirth of this breathtaking Beaux-Arts building is an amazing architectural achievement in landmark preservation.

“This spectacular illustration — reveals the remarkable color palette used on this project," said Parker.

The typeface used in the poster is the classic Goudy Old Style created in 1915 by Frederic Goudy. Goudy was America’s greatest typographer who designed over 100 fonts. He had offices in both Chicago and Park Ridge.

A yellow 1928 Rolls-Royce Sport Phantom is featured in the poster. It was the car driven by Robert Redford in 1974’s The Great Gatsby, perfectly capturing the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age.

Cook County Hospital was a beacon of hope for the people of Chicago for more than a century. WJE just put a spotlight on one of the most dazzling projects in Chicago.

This Urban Chic poster showcases the award winning facade work by the WJE team

“It was such a joy to create such a powerful architectural poster to celebrate the effort, expertise and collaboration that Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. brought to this remarkable restoration project,” said Parker.

This Urban Chic image showcases the award winning facade work by the WJE team. It also showcases the detail, care and craftsmanship used to restore this historic Indianapolis Ford Assembly Building. The poster features a 1915 Ford Model T Roadster manufactured at the site.

“I was so impressed by the exquisite visual character and appearance of the facade restoration in this Indianapolis automotive landmark,” says Parker.

The WJE Team gets the checkered flag and are in the winner’s circle with this project.

Illustration celebrates WJE’s award winning restoration of The Old Chicago Post Office

I just completed a commission for Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. on the landmark Old Chicago Post Office. “A dazzling Art Deco poster that captures the essence of this colossal architectural structure,” said Parker.

1934 was a very good year in Chicago. A Century of Progress World’s Fair showcased the fabulous Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow automobile. Awesome Airships soared across the heavens as spectacular searchlights criss-cross the night sky.

And the Chicago Main Post Office — a magnificent Art Deco marvel was completed in 1934.

The Old Post Office — a mammoth architecture challenge became the award-winning restoration in 2019.