Inception and development – Phase 2
The second and third cement barrier murals transformation began in spring, 2021, after the structures were moved to an area near the current shade structure. Anne applied early that year for a grant from DCASE and received the exciting news that she would be receiving an Individual Artists Program Grant from the Chicago Department of Special Events (Department of Cultural Affairs – DCASE) as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funds were also raised during the summer of 2021 through two summer art-auction fundraisers hosted at The Art of Gallery by Michael Ramstedt and a patio dinner at Sinha Elegant Brazilian Cuisine hosted by award-winning Chef Jorgina.
Andrew’s specialty is mosaic, and he proudly completed the red-winged blackbird and seagull in flight.
Proceeds from a Mural Fundraiser at Sinha Elegant Brazilian Cuisine in June 2022 funded the completion of “Continuous Growth Murals 2 and 3 throughout the summer.
Anne hired Carriana to be her right hand, as Andrew had a summer job. Carriana’s enthusiasm for glazing ceramics was a driving force. Here are pictures from the Summer 2022 work sessions:
As the weeks progressed, Carriana and Anne both worked on the back of the mural, creating a tribute to Ukraine on the far-left side with both ceramic and painted sunflowers. At the top, Carriana is painting in the sunflowers that Anne had sketched. Below, Anne is securing the zucchini on the mural section on the other side of “Continuous Growth Barrier #2” that was mostly a vegetable garden. Andrew stopped by to visit one day and was happy to be photographed next to his ‘portrait!’
This grouping of photos displays some of the most lush and complex aspects of Continuous Growth #3. On the left in the top grouping, tribute is paid to Eric McKamey, former co-president of the Maxwell Street Community Garden who passed in 2022. He is shown here wearing a fuscia lei and holding a shovel with Girl Friday at his side. Marsha, his close friend and former co-president is now President, doing the job of several people. Eric would be proud of her. Steve Schwartzman, bottom photo, is the ‘Garden Paparrazzi,’ always seen with his trusty camera. Anne finally fired a sunflower that did’t explode in the kiln! It is now on the mural and will be grouted next spring.
