Hello Craig. I sent this to the Alderman’s office and I wanted to share this with your readers too:
Why does a mural representing Rogers Park depict only a selection of African American stereotypes? Those of us who live in this neighborhood choose it because of its rich diversity. Why are no others of us included? And the mediocrity of the mural does not reflect the lively artistic nature of Rogers Park. I find the mural offensive and dull at the same time. There is so much need for real improvement, especially on Morse Ave.
Marilou Kessler
p.s. When I read the blog I found out what I suspected – the artist/s don’t even come from Rogers Park. It’s disgusting. You may attach this to the blog if you think it’s worth it. I’m curious to see what others think of the mural and it’s choice of subject matter. Thanks for giving us all a voice.
BLOGNOTES: Hi Marilou, I know it's last minute, but there is a community meeting for the so-called mile of murals on Tuesday, July 17th at the No Exit Cafe (6970 N. Glenwood) at 6pm. You can voice your opinion there too.
DevCorp North just put this information on their website today. As usual, they waited until the very last minute to inform the community about this meeting. They are very poor at getting information out.
For more information, contact Rob Moriarty at robmoriarty@nerdtronica.com.
34 comments:
We are discussing the one on the Morse el bridge?
I for one think it is pretty. I don't look for symbolism in my murals...and besides, with the rate at which the area is gentrifying a culturally diverse mural may not make sense, anyway.
I quite like the mural on the east side of the tracks. I don't look for too much symbolism in murals either, as long as they don't look like graffiti (the ones in Evanston by the Green Bay/Ridge intersection being a case in point).
I too noticed a single race theme going on with the mural, and found it a little strange, considering RP is very much about cultural diversity. Not to mention, it would have been a better use of time and money to clean up the underside of the tracks, and the repaint the posts. Not to mention clean up the pigeon crap and the other suspect stains that abound there. Not to mention, having a AA mural, with all the gang activity, feels a little threatening.
Sorry to break in, another blogger wonders why DevCorp North does such a shitty job at promotion.
Craig said:
"DevCorp North just put this information on their website today. As usual, they waited until the very last minute to inform the community about this meeting. They are very poor at getting information out."
They are very poor at everything but tearing down beautiful and historic buildings and leaving the eyesore holes for us to look at for years. Don't think for a second that you have a say, just because you voice your opinion at the meetings, they judge you by your bank account alone.
Just had to state the obvious again for those who have turned a blind eye towards the waste, crime, and corruption in the 49th ward.
"as long as they don't look like graffiti (the ones in Evanston by the Green Bay/Ridge intersection being a case in point)."
Ugh. Or the ones underneath the Metra tracks on Howard Street -- both sides look like graffiti. Whoever put the one on the Evanston side up didn't ask either the alderman or the community; I don't know anyone who likes it.
I think you may have been looking at the graffiti.
An 'Afrocentric' mural does not set a good example for diversity, especially when it is painted by non-residents. Jordan Community School had fun at Dominicks with its contribution. I prefer a work coming from a neighborhood school or program.
We need to be tolerant, but obviously someone is asleep at the switch! Why not focus on animals or plants; it makes things less controversial?
its a bit over the top to be "disgusted' that a artist wasn't from RP. that one's opinion and not a standard. as it was said before why isn't an artist who grew up in hyde park not as worthy of being called local. who created the definition of local and what does the contract call for. I would think someone could be offended or disgusted that someone thinks because they aren't from the kingdom of RP that they aren't consider a local artist. i suggest you go to the meeting and find out more information and instead of coming outguns drawn talk to the young person who painted the mural, perhaps you'll have something in common instead of spreading disgust, which sounds hateful.
You missed the ship. The point is that there are a lot of kids who want recognition and praise in our community. They see the murals day in and day out. Giving them a chance to admire their own work is a good idea.
I think that Armstrong, Gale, Jordan, Sullivan or some other local school should get a chance to design and re-do the mural just east of Pottawatomie Park, as an example. That is all. Any objections?
I am not suggesting that all murals be products of RP artists or children. However, I think that 'Deadcorpse' could have solicited ideas rather than dropping this brilliant idea of theirs on the locals foreheads.
Anybody know what was discussed at the CAPS meeting tonight. We missed it...
Lawfew - Giving Rogers Park kids a chance to design and install murals in their own neighborhood is a great idea. Even very young children can get involved in a design process with the right guidance. Projects like this can be full of charm and very meaningful to the children who help create them.
You also make a great point that public murals needn't be designed by professional artists. Very interesting outcomes sometimes result when the design is a collaboration between professional artists and adult non-professionals as long as the installation is sound.
The political, intellectual and technical complacency behind these latest murals is extremely disappointing. A failure of imagination on all counts.
Hey Craig, I know you've got to be getting info on the fire.....
neighborhood kids get a two block bench to paint!
The mural looks better than what was there before. I think it looks nice.
Also, I mostly come from the east side but does the west side of the tracks look "too black" for you?
These comments make my head hurt.
"Not to mention, having a AA mural, with all the gang activity, feels a little threatening."
What the hell does this even MEAN? What does a bloody mural have to do with gang activity?
Rogers Park may be the bloggiest community in the US, but it certainly ISN'T the most racially tolerant. Thank goodness I'm moving back to the south side soon.
jc, I'm sure you can find a**holes down there too.
No, I wasn't suggesting a two block bench to paint.
I had something more like this in mind.
People are already working with young children in this way in West Humboldt Park, Pilsen and New City. Don't see why we couldn't here.
Hi Craig. Please add a comment to the blog about the mural on the west side of Glenwood. After reading others comments, I realized that I did not mean “disgusting” either about the mural or the fact of the artists not being local. I just summarized the way in which Morse Ave improvements are approached. Marilou
I'll post my CAPs meetng notes tonight hopefully.
There’s nothing new, yet everything powerful about the idea of engaging local youth to paint (and every year re-paint) murals on the walls of Rogers Park. During a candidate debate in the aldermanic election four years ago, I suggested using the dozens of CTA and RTA viaducts and embankment walls in the 49th ward as canvases for the project.
I noted the lack of art programs in our local schools and how few opportunities for expression our youth have. I noted the wealth of artists and artistically inclined residents who would be recruited to volunteer in guiding this youth project. I suggested this as a novel giving opportunity for local businesses to contribute funds for paint and supplies. With the Roger Park Community Council as the lead organization coordinating the program (collaborating with school principals, businesses, and the government agencies from whom we’d need permission) I targeted Clark-Devon Hardware as the top blue-ribbon corporate sponsor.
The idea is still a good one. It’s better than us complaining year after year or remaining complacent about gang scrawling and other graffiti. Isn’t this a win-win solution to a large community problem? The result would be a much more “colorful Rogers Park” - pun intended for blog posters who seem to be expressing alarm on all sides of the issue about racial diversity here.
At Least they got the date and time out.
my problem with it is that the some of the images are depicting activities that, while they may have been a highlight of the community at one time, are no longer available. why perpetuate the past?
Does anything make you nay-sayers happy? Morse L stop looks like hell, so they paint over at least some of the nastiness with a rather nice mural. What happens then? You find something about the mural to complain about. If they'd just painted the underside of the L tracks, as someone suggested, I'm betting you same people would be complaining that they just painted it white instead of painting a mural.
it looks good,
professional artists are used,
so the art doesnt look
so amateurish,
and the artist gets paid,
there are other ways to get the kids involved, public art is one way, there are many other ways,
how about having them plant and water what they plant,
or pick up trash?
or read a book?
just cuz this mural wasnt done the superfuzzy liberal handholding
hands across america way doesnt mean that it sucks,
i like it.
plus its a tad dangerous for kids to be up on scaffolds on morse,
one falls over and is run over,
and then everyone is up in arms,
you cant win with the RP contingency.
Also, there's no way I'd let my child get up on that scaffolding. That was unsafe and then some.
Go by the brickolage under Foster Ave, itws a project that $20,000 was raised by the community and everyone can be involved. Also if any one wants to volunteer, they can be from any neighborhood and its fun!!!
uh, hi, the seventies called and wants its art back.
sorry, but just because its bright and colorful and cost money does not make it good art.
and you can win with the RPers--its called full disclosure.
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