Wheaton to add nighttime art displays at downtown mural

A visiting artist brightened up a downtown Wheaton plaza when he created a geometric mural in sky blues, pinks and sunny colors.

In a not-so-obvious way, the shapes spray-painted along the retaining wall spell out WHEATON.

Almost two years after the mural came together, the city is taking it to the next level. A projection mapping system will animate the same surface with nighttime displays next to the French market pavilion.

“This, I believe, is a very exciting project for the city, as it will further enhance the community experience at the plaza area, bringing together art and technology,” City Manager Michael Dzugan said.

The Morton Arboretum “Illumination” holiday lights show also incorporates projections to make it appear as if snow is falling on trees or as if those oxygen producers are inhaling and exhaling.

A more prominent example is the Art on THE MART series on the building formerly known as the Merchandise Mart along the Chicago River.

“So that type of product we're actually bringing to Wheaton as part of the America 250 celebrations,” Mayor Phil Suess said.

The Wheaton Fine & Cultural Arts Commission recruited an artist known as Peru143 to create the mural in the downtown plaza at Main Street and Liberty Drive. The commission proposed adding the digital mapping system.

Using high-lumen projectors, the system projects “dynamic visuals” over the existing mural, Assistant City Manager William Kolschowsky explained in a memo to the city council.

Council members recently approved an agreement with Display Devices, Inc. for the design and installation of the system at a cost of up to $246,252. The agreement also includes content creation for three initial animations, Kolschowsky noted.

The commission has also talked about featuring student-designed projection art on the wall.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll develop that relationship and be able to show those pieces of art on that wall, and hopefully create Christmas ones, Easter ones, Thanksgiving ones, have different types of programs that would run,” Dzugan said.

The funds for the project come from several sources: a $25,000 grant from Arts DuPage, TIF #2 closeout distributions, and TIF #3 surplus distributions.

The city also plans another downtown mural tied to the town’s commemoration of 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s conceived as a historical mural timeline spanning a Prairie Path retaining wall north of the pavilion.