‘We don’t have artisans or craftsmen or stone masons that are doing this kind of work anymore.’

On a beautiful Sunday, the Basilica of St. Josaphat had its doors open, welcoming the public. Modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of St. Josaphat is decked out with vivid stained glass and lustrous gold details encompassed in limestone and marble. The grandeur was accompanied by the light whispers of visitors to Doors Open Milwaukee. Photographer Lex Eckles was there taking photos, “Just for the love of the game.”

Gabriella Fields: What brings you to the Basilica today?

Lex Eckles: I had been hearing so much about this particular cathedral for the last 10 years of my life and I’ve never gotten around to going inside because I’m always thinking, I’m not necessarily Catholic, I don’t live on this side of town. What other reasons would I have to go inside? Doors Open is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Gabriella Fields: Are you originally from Milwaukee?

Lex Eckles: I am! Born and raised on the north side.

Gabriella Fields: In this building, what particularly stands out to you as a photographer and as a person living in the world?

Lex Eckles: I think it’s all of the stained glass. A lot of the buildings I’ve been into I was like, “We have an affinity for a coffered ceiling, love that!” But I think predominantly, the marble and the attention to detail because we don’t have artisans or craftsmen or stone masons that are doing this kind of work anymore. Then, overhearing the guide say they weren’t getting actual craftsmen to produce a lot of the work that was going on during the building of the church. Most of the people had everyday working jobs and were just really devout to wanting a place of worship. I think architecture, especially from a religious sense, is a really cool way to see how people articulate spirituality. Then you think about the migration patterns of the people that lived here prior. I was just speaking to a guy that’s from Poland and is visiting. He told me that this gives him so much pride knowing my people built it. Milwaukee was predominantly German and Polish for a long time until the Great Migration and the Industrial Revolution that brought a lot of different ethnicities that live here now.

Gabriella Fields: So you said you grew up in Milwaukee, do you feel like you know this city pretty well or do you still feel like there’s much to explore?

Lex Eckles: It’s interesting because I haven’t lived here the majority of my adult life. I recently came back because I was away for school, then I played basketball overseas immediately after college. Milwaukee’s one of those spaces where unless you’re of age, there’s not a lot of socializing that you can do. So once you’re there, a lot of your vested interests are more available to you. Going from a young adult to an older adult and seeing the city in a different light has been really cool.

Gabriella Fields: Wow! So you played basketball overseas, where did you go to school?

Lex Eckles: Rufus King! For basketball, I did a year in Ireland and two years in Australia.

Gabriella Fields: Are you happy you came out today?

Lex Eckles: Absolutely. I’m staying until everyone decides to say, “Okay, you have to leave now.”

Gabriella Fields: Have you been to any other Doors Open locations?

Lex Eckles: I went to the Pfister Hotel, the Pabst Theater, City Hall, the federal building. That was a sleeper because the exterior of the building doesn’t look like it would be so cute and ornate on the inside. Apparently, it had previously been the mailroom. The huge aviary in the center, that’s where they used to sort mail before they wired it for electricity. We also have the best library downtown, it’s stunning.

Gabriella Fields: When you see all this new infrastructure being built to cover the beauty in things, and then coming to all these incredible Doors Open locations and learning the history, what feeling do you get?

Lex Eckles: It makes me sad because this is what gives Milwaukee its true identity and culture. When we aren’t taking precautionary measures to landmark certain locations or put restorative efforts behind it, it’s upsetting. This is a critical aspect of our identity and history as a city that has now been eroded and we don’t have any historical reference to it anymore. We’re just not building like this anymore. We need to get aristocrats interested in donating for infrastructure. Everyone with money needs to get back into the arts. If you’re going to be egoic about anything, let it be about infrastructure, let it be about civic engagement and engineering and responsibility. Let it be about the things that everyone else can mutually enjoy. The arts are so important. They’re the reason you’re crying at Netflix shows. They’re the reason you’re in the store seeking out greeting cards for somebody special, all of that matters. It’s glossed over because it’s a conditioned reality: “I know that I’m supposed to have this. This is innately part of my environment and my conditioning and culture. I don’t know what it’s like to not have access to this.” Aesthetics, architecture, art, literature, and literacy are all privileges, which makes me sad and which is why it needs to be more readily available like this. I love that this is a free event, and people are volunteering their time.