Young artists create colorful public art in downtown Libertyville
Bit by bit, a colorful public work of art has emerged as a new aesthetic feature in downtown Libertyville.
For a few hours each morning this week, students from the Camp Adler counselor-in-training program have been adding layers to an original mural celebrating community spirit and the arts.
An assortment of flowers, frogs, rabbits and other creatures have populated a 12-foot by 8-foot painting in a pedestrian walkway dubbed Artists Alley, between Shakou and Milwalky Taco restaurants on Milwaukee Avenue.
"It's a whimsical floral theme," said Tanya Leintz, art program coordinator at the Libertyville-based fine arts camp. "We even have a cute little spider hanging from a web. Very "Alice in Wonderland"-like. Whimsical. Colorful. Bold. Bright."
The mural project was a first for Adler. The camp was approached by the owner of the Manchester building, which houses Shakou and other restaurants on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors.
The mural is an attempt to "activate" a well-traveled corridor to promote the community. The passage is one of several in the main commercial stretch of downtown but the first with an original art work.
"We thought it was an opportunity. There's a good amount of people who travel through there," said Mark Heffron, managing partner of CEDARst Companies, the Chicago-based firm that owns the building and passageway.
"We installed a stand to be housing the murals," Heffron said. "They're going to change based on how often the Adler Center wants to do it."
Leintz, who came up with the subject for the mural, said the change will occur once or possibly twice a year.
Adler Camp Director Molly Bunder said the mural project allows students to make a visible impact in the community and learn that art "belongs everywhere and is for everyone."
The student artists are 11 to 15 years old and are part of a counselor-in-training program that includes advanced visual and performing arts classes and community service projects.
"It brings the kids together and they're having a great time," Leintz said.
Siena Rodriguez, 13, was part of the Wednesday crew.
"It's just teenagers and not super professional artists," she said.
"I like art. I like painting. I would have volunteered. It's a lot of fun," added Georgia Filler, 14.
The mural is an independent project. This past May, the village board created a fine arts commission to promote Fine Arts Month each March, establish public art review policies and research public arts programs but members have not been appointed.