Video: South Chicago teens install mural
Teenagers from South Chicago worked together to create and install a 90-foot-long mural that addresses gangs, violence and local history. After months of work on the project, which started with discussion and ideas in May of 2007, the mural panels were glued to a wall at 91st Street and Commercial Avenue on Saturday, November 1.
The lead artist on the project was Brother Mark Elder of DePaul University, who worked with residents and the South Chicago Art Center to bring together the team that created the artwork.
The colorful mural imagery is of iconic South Chicago figures, locations and architecture. The teens imagined and drew steel workers, an immigrant family, murdered street-activist Arnold Mireles, an African-American family and youth.
Background imagery morphs from dogs and cats to streets in South Chicago, from the Calumet River and the lake to ying yangs and angels and devils fighting.
This imagery was created during sessions where the teens spoke of stress and turmoil in the neighborhood and the routes they take to school to avoid gang turf.
Thanks to South Chicago Art Center's Beth McGovern for this information, photos and the video below, and to Claretian Associates' Graciela Robledo for passing it on.
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