COD Public Art Committee, Glen Ellyn Public Art Committee unveil new traveling installation 'Glen Ellyn Letters' Nov. 12
The College of DuPage Public Art Committee in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Public Art Committee invite residents to attend the unveiling of their newest project, "Glen Ellyn Letters."
This traveling installation of hand-painted letters by Mexican artist and muralist Juan Chawuk spotlights iconic Glen Ellyn locations. Chawuk also painted the Frida Kahlo letter installation for the 2021 "Frida Kahlo Timeless" exhibition.
The letters are 36 inches tall and span 22 feet, depicting quintessential Glen Ellyn locations such as the Civic Center, Lake Ellyn Boat House, the Glen Movie Theater, College of DuPage, McAninch Arts Center, Stacy's Tavern, the Horse Trough, and Glenbard West and South high schools.
The unveiling will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, 800 N. Main St.
Speakers at the event will include Village President Mark Senak, Public Art Committee chair Diana Martinez, and artist Chawuk. All Glen Ellyn residents are welcome to attend this event.
"Glen Ellyn Letters" is sponsored by College of DuPage and the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation. It is a gift to the village and available to tour to indoor locations throughout the village including schools, the Glen Ellyn Library, Park District, COD and other organizations, for years to come. Requests to host the letters can be directed to Glen Ellyn's marketing director Grant Paplauskas at gpaplauskas@glenellyn.org.
The partnership behind "Glen Ellyn Letters" is a result of the COD DuPage Public Art Project proposed by Diana Martinez, director of the McAninch Arts Center, and approved by the college's board of trustees in October 2020 with the goal of initiating public art events and art installations throughout DuPage County. Martinez proposed the idea in an effort to build public art committees in towns throughout DuPage County. The idea of the project was inspired by the announcement by COD President Dr. Brian Caputo of the Arts, Culture and Community Engagement Pillar of the college's 2021-2026 strategic long-range plan.
The partnership with Glen Ellyn is the inaugural kickoff to the college's public art project, where COD will work with the village to establish a public arts committee, and partner for the creation of two public art installations.
"Glen Ellyn Letters" replaces the community arts engagement effort. At the conclusion of 2022, COD will partner with another town for two years with the goal that the established committee in Glen Ellyn will continue on its own.
Following the Nov. 12 unveiling, the Glen Ellyn Historical Society will host a talk by award-winning actress and scholar Leslie Goddard, Ph.D., who will present an illustrated lecture on "Christmastime at the Marshall Field" store. Cost is $10, $8 for historical society members, or $5 for age 18 or under. Refreshments will be served. To RSVP or for more information, email info@glenellenhistoricalsociety.org.