Our public art:

Have you admired the beautification work in our neighborhood, and are curious how it all came about….

In 2012 the new 12th District Police Station was built on Blue Island near 14th street.  The city has a Percent for Art ordinance  which assures that 1.33% of the construction budget for construction or major renovation of a City-owned or City-financed building or structure, or for certain outdoor improvements, is used to commission art at that building, structure or improvement.

Normally when new police stations have been built the public art has been put inside of the station. I asked myself how many people actually get to see that art if it is inside?  I lobbied with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) for this public art to be put outside and made them aware of the triangular piece of property across from the station. It was filled with weeds and garbage, broken sidewalks, and a fence that was falling down. Through the years we’d have community cleanups, but honestly it continued to be an eyesore.

It took 10 years to finally complete this project as it went thru numerous hoops and setbacks. In late October 2022 we finally dedicated our new public art piece in the triangle plaza across from the 12th District Police Station and very near University Commons.

The selected artist, Juan Angel Chavez is a Chicago-based sculpture and installation artist who works primarily with found objects to create assemblages, sculptures and installations that explore the relationship between nature and the built environment. His work has been exhibited in local, national, and international venues and he has been recognized for his work with several individual artist awards: The Richard H. Driehaus, Chicago, The Louis Comfort Tiffany NY, NY, Artadia NY, NY, 3Arts, Chicago and The Joan Mitchell Fellowship NY, NY.

The artist named the piece HYLE, which is an ancient Greek word that refers to matter or stuff. It was later adapted to mean material (wood) in Latin. In this situation, HYLE refers to both the material in which the piece was initially conceived, and the materiality of site being transformed into interactive space. The piece is a steel structure that combines the abstracted forms inspired by adventitious morning glories with the concepts of structures that are considered as living buildings: for example, Wharenui, a Maori meeting house, in which the belief is that all ancestors are vital part of its structure, Native American longhouses in which all tribe members lived in, temples in which people gather for spiritual guidance, etc.  All these references pushed Juan to propose a contemporary version of what is communal, welcoming, and native to the area and the surrounding communities: Pilsen, Little Italy, Maxwell street, UIC, South Water community, Collins Apartments and ABLA Homes. 

HYLE is a metaphorical structure that honors that spirit of activism and social change by referencing the morning glory which is considered both beautiful and undesirable. Jane Addams, Florence Scala, Rudy Lozano and Deverra Beverly are the history of tenacity for change, but it continues with Police, ABLA residents, and other community members; as they all maintain the same level of commitment for transforming this community for the better. 

This project was created as multi-faceted processes involving community members. The goal for this project is to reflect the community in which it lives and transform a site and a sculpture, into a place you have lunch, admire, use to gather for evening concerts, or just enjoy and revisit for generations to come.

Thanks to Tom Volz, UC neighbor, who will be our "eyes on the ground" to watch over the plaza. 

Many of you never saw what this area looked like 15 years ago without the many improvements. The green space adjacent to Fosco Park use to be a vacant lot strewn with rocks, etc. The police station was the site of low rise housing that was boarded up. The ROSIE site was an asphalt lot and also a section was overgrown with weeds and a fence that was falling down. And the triangle plaza was what this picture below represents and now the site of our new public sculpture. 

Public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of a community. It is now a well-accepted principle of urban design that public art contributes to a community's identity, fosters community pride and a sense of belonging, and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

Enjoy! Nancy Plax

Neighborhood Beautification:

Have you seen the amazing murals on Racine?!!

This new art masterpiece was inaugurated Summer 2023! It took lots of hard work, fundraising, and getting new lighting in the Racine viaduct; Including hands on cleanup thanks to Adam Sterbis, Diana Mulka, Delilah and I. Thanks also to Maxwell Street Garden for lending some tools.

This is a never-ending battle, but we are so happy to be able to have our community come together to enjoy these murals.

It was a labor of love for me for my community. Thanks to everyone who donated to achieve these beautiful murals and helped make our viaduct safer to walk through.

Since 2013, I am proud to say there have been 90+ murals added to our community. Thank you, Delilah Martinez and the The Mural Movement for all your help.  And THANK YOU dear neighbors who have contributed to this project!

Enjoy!  Nancy Plax