Newest Century Walk piece celebrates famous artists, creations
The Naperville Art League no longer will have to worry about blending into the surrounding neighborhood.
Century Walk Corp. dedicated its 34th public art piece Tuesday, a mural that spans the entire south wall of the league's gallery at Center Street and Fifth Avenue.
"Now I think we're putting the art league truly on the map," Century Walk President Brand Bobosky said.
The mural, titled "World's Greatest Artists," is 67 feet across and 12 feet high and depicts famous artists creating their well-known works.
Glen Ellyn resident Mike Venezia, author of an illustrated children's book series called "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists," designed the piece. It shows artists such as Salvador Dali, Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat and Pablo Picasso as cartoon characters while their artwork is realistic.
"This is a highlight of my life to do something this magnanimous and large," Venezia told the crowed gathered at the dedication ceremony.
He hopes it will draw visitors not only from Naperville but surrounding cities and serve as an educational tool for students.
Along with the 30-plus famous artists depicted in the mural, Venezia added a few personal tributes, including his wife and his sister, Debbie Venezia, executive director of the art league.
Mike himself is also in the mural as is Bobosky and Naperville artist Marianne Lisson Kuhn, who spent the summer painting it.
Lisson Kuhn said she has enjoyed getting to know the neighbors as they stopped by to chat while she worked. The mural isn't quite finished so she'll be outside painting for another few weeks.
Debbie Venezia said the art league is already reaching its goal, drawing more attention to the gallery that had been hidden among homes in the neighborhood for the past 30 years.
Three famous artists pictured in the mural were on hand for Tuesday's ceremony, including longtime Dick Tracy artist Dick Locher of Naperville, painter George Shipperley of Aurora, and Faith Ringgold who is known for her painted story quilts.
All three said they were honored to be included.
"This is wonderful. What a great idea to have Mike actually play out his books on this wall," Ringgold said. "This is a unique idea."
Mayor George Pradel joked he'll have to make sure he doesn't drive the wrong way as he's going past the building admiring the mural. He called it a "mark of distinction."
"This is a beautiful building now and all of us can be proud of it," he said.
The project cost $35,000, including artists, supplies and landscape improvements. Century Walk is funded by Naperville's Special Events and Cultural Amenities grants that come from a 1 percent tax on food and beverages.
The next Century Walk piece, a sculpture of Dick Tracy, could be ready as early as October. Locher has been drawing the famous detective for nearly 30 years.