The photos above show how the cement barriers appeared at the Maxwell Street Community Garden prior to the transformation project. The barrier pictured at the left is in the “Welcome Garden” and was accented by new plantings and bordered by large cut stones. It presented as an “empty canvas.” Eventually it evolved into the Welcome Garden Mural with a colorful, scenic background painted on both side and the addition of mosaic lettering and mosaic appliques of lettering, flowers, birds, squirrels, bunnies and vegetables. The two barriers at the right were originally located along the north side of the garden behind the bee hives. They were moved in spring of 2021 to a location near the shade structure on the east side of the garden. Colorful background illustrations were added to both sides, with mosaics and ceramics added for dimension. As depicted in the watercolor visualizations, community members from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities are seen working together planting and harvesting vegetables and flowers. These three watercolor visualizations are by Anne Farley Gaines, the artist who designed the project.
Transformation and artistry
In these photos, Marshanda Norwood is priming the signage barrier in May 2020. Marshanda and Andrew Epps are shown working on the back and end-caps of the concrete barrier after Anne and Marshanda painted the sky and land areas. Anne is shown attaching a sunflower crafted by Jade Shumpert to the mural. Andrew is holding up the turtle he has crafted, and Brianna Norwood is putting mosaic onto a Hardiebacker cement board shape of a green pepper.
Several jewel-like mosaic forms were created by Jade, Andrew, Marshanda and Brianna. Anne drew the images onto Hardiebacker cement board and then cut out the shapes for them to apply the mosaic. Anne is with letters that she drew and her husband, sculptor Geoffrey Novelli, cut out of Hardiebacker.
Jade completed the lettering for “Continuous Growth” and proudly displayed it prior to affixing it to the concrete.
Jade displays a grouping of green beans she crafted a week before the dedication of The Welcome Garden Continuous Growth Mural. Andrew is shown adhering mosaic shapes to the bottom of the mural on the day of its dedication. Many hours of work that day! The mosaic woodpecker and the rabbit both showcase Andrew’s talents and workmanship.
The Dedication
The official dedication of the “Welcome Garden Continuous Growth” mural occurred on August 11, 2020. Anne, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, and Marsha Wyatt, co-president of the Maxwell Street Community Garden. District 012 Commander Gabriela Shemash is shown as she cut the ribbon at the ceremony during the first week of her tenure as Commander. Community Policing Officer Paris Edwards is shown admiring a Winter Melon in one of the garden plots.
Jade and her mother just before the dedication. It was a week full of life events for this talented member of our community. She moved into her dorm at the University of Memphis the next day and is pursing pre-med studies.
At the right, Eric McKamey, co-president, is standing with Girl Friday, his beloved companion. They were regular ‘fixtures’ at the Garden. Eric passed in early 2022 from complications with cancer and beloved Girl Friday is happily ensconced in a new home.
This photo of the the Welcome Garden was taken early in the summer of 2021. The mural was finally completed in the fall of 2020 as Anne continued to add mosaic and complete the lower part with freezing hands! Love emanates from this Welcome Garden Mural. It continually welcomes all Garden members and visitors. This mural was funded in part by a grant from the Chicago Housing Consulting services and from several fundraisers held at Sinha Elegant Brazilian Cuisine.