AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/public-art/)
Two gateway structures will be installed at the entrances of the Soul City Corridor along Chicago Avenue, one at Austin Boulevard and the other at Cicero Avenue. The three artists finalists in the competition – Wesley Clark, Sonja Henderson and Bernard Williams – were introduced at an online community forum held earlier this month.
After hearing from residents, the artist-led Public Art Reimagining Tour with You (PARTY) is sharing six proposals under consideration.
As residents were briefed about a mural that is being redone at the Central Avenue viaduct there were calls for infrastructure repair. “Why are you putting a Band-Aid on a gushing wound? one resident asked.
West Side residents are invited to attend a virtual meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. April 7 about a mural that will be painted at 350 N. Central Ave. Alds. Chris Taliaferro (29th) and Emma Mitts (37th) will be in attendance.
“Sunburst” is a painted aluminum sculpture created specifically for the recently refurbished CTA bus turnaround at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Austin Boulevard. The artist, Shinique Smith, was one of nearly 350 artists who responded to CTA’s Call for Artists issued in 2015 for the bus turnaround.
The statue, created by Austin artist Keith Brownlee, is located at 4922 W. Chicago Ave. It was unveiled Thursday, the last day of Black History Month.
West Side artists are working on projects in collaboration with members of the Chicago City Council under the city’s $1 million initiative to install art in all 50 wards.
The Chicago Transit Authority hired New York Shinique Smith to complete the $200,000 project.