Site-See: MuralLocator.Org Aims to Catalog Chicago's Murals

By Marielle Shaw in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 22, 2014 6:00PM

Mega Mural by Galerie F. Photo credit: Marielle Shaw for Chicagoist

There’s plenty of things that give our city its distinctive personality. Food, music, immigration patterns and even geography have helped shape our city and make it stand out in its own way.This is true of the city at large and the different neighborhoods we call home.

One of our favorite ways to see those differences is through public art. Our city is full of colorful mosaics and murals that tell the story of all the different places and people that make up the city. From political statements to grinning Muppets, you don’t have to go far to stumble on something to see.

But if stumbling isn’t your style, there’s a website that can help you target your walks to encounter more street art. Mural Locator has a dedicated Chicago section with several pages of entries with photos and locations. The format for this locator is a bit easier to work with than CPAG’s site, though it doesn’t seem to have as many entries. You can help with that though, as the site also offers users the chance to submit something that’s missing and make comments on existing entries.

We’d love to see all of the diverse art Chicago has adorning its streets on this site, both for us to more easily locate on sunny days when indoor art viewing seems like a waste, and as a storybook for potential visitors and those interested in this art form. Check it out, and see if something from your neighborhood can be added to this growing collection.