Rosemont mural initiative beautifies Williams Street garage
As part of its ongoing efforts to beautify public spaces, the Village of Rosemont has unveiled the latest additions to the Rosemont Mural Initiative, a collection of 43 murals that have been painted by internationally recognized, award-winning artist Rahmaan Statik alongside a group of mentored student artists participating in a village-sponsored summer work program.
The 40 new murals are all located within the Williams Street Garage, which serves the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and MB Financial Park. They whimsically depict some of the world's greatest works of art, integrated with some recognizable Rosemont landmarks, such as the village's iconic water tower, Allstate Arena and Fashion Outlets of Chicago.
These murals join three previously painted murals created by Statik and youth artists in 2014 and 2015 at the Rosemont Recreation Center. The student artists working on the project this year include Andrea Bellomo, Adeline Bieniarz, Veronica Caracomo, Stephen Chen, Jasmine Cienfuegos, Kaylee Coyle, Tracy Danet, Andrea Dunn, Kamila Eva, Elizabeth Garcia, Luis Garcia, Haley Grison, Payton Johnson, Jesus Martinez, John McCormick, Andrea Ocampo, Lauren Schuster, Anna Soltys, Alexander Suarez, Angelica Urbina, Katie Wagner and Michael Winfield.
"Public art, even in unexpected places like a parking garage, makes those spaces more inviting and pleasant," said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens.
"Youth work programs, including those that focus on the arts, are valuable tools in helping young people develop skills for the future. Rahmaan's work with these young painters accomplishes both goals - making the village a more beautiful place to live and visit and providing training and mentorship to very talented aspiring artists."
For the most recent works, Statik mentored student artists from Columbia College, the American Academy of Art and East Leyden High School in creating the murals, and also painted some himself. The concept for the series was created in collaboration with representatives of the Rosemont community.
The murals pay tribute to great artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, George Seurat, Vincent Van Gogh, Roy Lichtenstein, M. C. Esher, Andy Warhol and Chicago-based contemporary artist Hebru Brantley.
The Williams Street Garage series includes 32 5-by-15-foot murals and eight 15-by-30-foot murals.
"The students came up with designs that challenged their skills as artists while also linking Rosemont with some of history's greatest works of art," Statik said.
"I am proud to have worked with them to develop these concepts. We are so happy to have transformed previously unremarkable spaces within a parking structure into a fun, vibrant and beautiful showcase of art."
Anyone wishing to view the murals can enter the parking garage from entrances on Williams Street (off of River Road), Bryn Mawr Avenue or Balmoral Avenue. Additional murals can be viewed in the neighborhood around the Rosemont Recreation Center, 7128 Barry St.
Rahmaan Statik grew up on the South Side of Chicago surrounded by urban art and public murals, where he became inspired to be involved with the subculture of urban graffiti.
His mission is to legitimize the production of aerosol murals, and the main focus of his work is public murals that fuse the graffiti aesthetic with classical training Statik received from the American Academy of Art.
As co-founder of RK Design, a graphic arts and mural company, he has produced more than 300 murals, multiple CD covers, book illustrations and logo designs.