African Print Play in the ‘Burbs. Plus, Oak Park Makes a Home for Street Art

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street art in oak parkHappy Monday, all! This week, apart from the rain, Chicagoland promises to be full of sunshine and warm weather.

street art in oak parkYou may know that I live 20 minutes from the loop in Oak Park, a western suburb of Chicago. Living in the ‘burbs has its perks but there are some things I miss about big city living. Street art is one of those things. That’s why I’m so excited about Oak Park’s community mini-mural project. Along the retaining walls of the BNSF train line, artists are being commissioned to fill spaces with their artistic work and are being provided a stipend to do so. What is more, the theme of each artist’s work is deliberately left up to their interpretation so as to provide a diverse array of art styles and scenes. The result is a high impact showcase, of which some part is instantly relatable to each and every member of the community. Interested in participating? The deadline has passed for all applicants but I’ll be sure to post info here if another round is started by the village later this year.

The piece seen here was painted by Tia Etu, a member of Oak Park’s thriving arts district.

street art in oak park