New Mural Unveiled
By Anthonia Akitunde in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 22, 2009 6:30PM
In Chicago, murals can sometimes convey a culture or a neighborhood's feel better than the businesses and residents. Stretching across the north and south walls of the Foster Street underpass at Lake Shore Drive is a new addition to one of the city's most recognized artistic traditions: a mural entitled "Indian Land Dancing,"
The 3,200 square foot work has the distinction of being the city's largest "direct-application" mosaic and "the only public art piece designed by Native Americans," according to Chi-Town Daily News.
Local artists and 33 youth from Alternatives, Inc., a child and family agency in Chicago, came together for six weeks this summer to prepare the surfacing, cut and apply tile, sculpt clay and paint the concrete walls.
Composed of hundreds of glass and ceramic tile, the mural depicts a mix of the modern with traditional Native American symbols: a matriarchal figure holds "a sphere of seven circles" - a nod to the Native American belief that all generations are interconnected - while a skateboarder with "Apache" on his board rides down the slope of her hair.
The project - started by Alderman Mary Ann Smith (D-48) and the Chicago Public Art Group - engaged the entire community. Project designers Tracy VanDuinen, Todd Osborne and Cynthia Weiss discussed design and direction plans with Native American scholars, families and artists. Area residents contributed ceramic tiles or money for the project.