New Public Art Installations To Go Up In Lake View

CHICAGO — North Side residents can expect to see many more art installations in the Lake View neighborhood in 2019. The non-profit organization Friends of Lakeview, a partner of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and Special Service Area 27, announced that 15 new large scale murals will be funded. The groups are calling on artists to apply for the projects.

One of the planned murals will be installed along the Southport Corridor at 3637 N. Southport Ave., just blocks from Wrigley Field. The mural, titled “Urbs in Horto” or “City in a Garden” after the City of Chicago’s official motto, will be painted by Detroit-based artist Louise Jones, who goes by the name Ouizi.

Known for creating beautiful works with vibrant flowers and colors, Ouizi’s art has graced murals in New York, Detroit, North Carolina and across the country. The artist said that writing Chicago’s motto in plain view and using specific blooms will honor the city’s close relationship with nature.

“Each bloom can be easily found in the city, and each serves a purpose in the bouquet,” said Ouizi. “Chrysanthemums are Chicago’s official flower, so they are featured most prominently in the mural. Roses are universally recognizable and loved. The wife of famous architect and futurist Buckminster Fuller loved this flower the most, and supposedly he had his studio less than two miles away from where the mural will be installed.”

In January, Friends of Lakeview established a new Lakeview Public Art Committee, tasked with identifying innovative artists and securing funding to support the display of public works of art in locations throughout West Lakeview. The committee is made up of professional artists, representatives from city agencies and community representatives.

Friends of Lakeview is currently accepting qualifications from artists and arts organizations interested in showcasing public spaces in West Lakeview with original works of art. A majority of these projects are planned for the Lakeview Low-Line—the half-mile space beneath the CTA ‘L’ tracks between Southport and Lincoln avenues. All future projects will go up in the area bounded by Racine Avenue, Ravenswood Avenue, Diversey Parkway and Irving Park Road.

Click here for artist applications.

Main image: a rendering of artwork by Louise "Ouizi" Jones that will be installed this spring at 3637 N. Southport Ave.

Past projects credits:

Image 2: Artwork by Chris Silva with Yollocalli Arts Reach students, Photo by Dillon Goodson

Image 3: Artwork by Anthony Lewellen, Photo by Way Up Creative

Image 4: Artwork by Caroline Liu, Curated by Johalla Projects, Photo by Dillon Goodson