West Chicago resident wins 2012 People's Choice Award for street art banner

West Chicago, Illinois: September 12, 2012 - The West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission wishes to extend congratulations to Uwe Gsedl, the 2012 street art banner People's Choice Award winner. His winning banner is titled "Summer Joy."

The photograph used for this banner was captured on June 1, 2011 after the middle school graduation of his daughter Ella.

Gsedl is an award-winning photographer, having won first place in the photography category at the Fine Arts Fiesta for the past 3 years. A West Chicago resident since 1994, German-born Gsedl has worked in West Chicago as a freelance graphic designer. In 2006 he founded OOVA FOTOGRAFIE and became a portrait and fashion photographer. Due to an illness in 2011, Gsedl is now partially blind.

Gsedl was awarded a gift certificate to Gallery 200, the artist's cooperative located in downtown West Chicago. A winner was also chosen from all those who voted for Gsedl's winning banner. Jenny Tracey is the lucky winner and will also receive a gift certificate to Gallery 200.

The West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission and the artists would like to thank all those who took the time to view and vote for all the talented banner artists; and to remind residents and friends to visit Gallery 200 and provide continued support for the arts in West Chicago.

Several 2008 - 2012 banners from the street art banner program are available for purchase. Anyone wanting more information or to purchase one of the banners should contact the Cultural Arts Commission at cultural@westchicago.org.