New Mural: 47th Street Metra, Chicago
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 02:24PM A team led and directed by Rahmaan Statik is nearing completion of the new 47th Street mural for Chicago Pubic Art.
Like much of the currently fading viaduct murals in Kenwood and Hyde Park, Statik's work represents the members and ideals of the community. What makes this new mural stand out in my eye is its boldness and strength. Above, you see the bust of a black man who resembles Fredrick Douglass with his flowing hair and goatee (but who is this figure supposed to be?--I'm not sure if it depicts any person in particular). Compare that magnificent profile to an image from the 57th Street Metra viaduct.
The older murals depict an economically and socially depressed community, whose only hope is the high intellectual values of only some of the neighborhood's residents. Statik's new murals are a great improvement on the public art medium; he depicts hope and pride for a community that is not perfect, but is well on its way to social and economic improvement.
Keep an eye out for Statik's work around Chicago and around the web. I'll be posting more photos in my photography section as I make them.
Jared
The first profile is actually a depiction of Jean Baptiste du Sable, the first settler of Chicago. Read about him here.
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Reader Comments (2)
I think the new mural at 47th Street is more likely Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.
Definitely not Fredrick Douglass.
You're absolutely right! Statik added du Sable and Gwendolyn Brooks' names to the mural shortly after I photographed them. (Brooks' portrait isn't pictured in this post.) Thanks anyway for pointing it out; have you been to see the viaduct up close? It is still very fresh