Stevenson Expressway - Pershing Road Western Ave - “Bubbly Creek” South Branch of Chicago River
Throughout its history, McKinley Park has traditionally been a working class neighborhood. Currently, the majority of its residents are working class with a Latinx origin. Most of the neighborhood is residential, with businesses and restaurants centered on Archer Ave. In its history, McKinley Park has been forged by steel mills, and a CSX railroad. After the Chicago Fire, many industrial and meatpacking operations relocated to the area, which solidified the population as a primarily working neighborhood. Due to its industrial past, the neighborhood has had recurrent environmental consequences of unregulated disposal of waste. Bubbly Creek, the south branch of Chicago River, was given its name due to the fact that it became the dumping ground for pachinghouses and other industries. The decomposing material would cause a constant stream of bubbles in the river. As steel mills and older factories closed McKinley Park would be home to other industries such as the Chicago Sun Times, and Pepsi Cola industries.
In 1901, after residents complained about having a green space, an experimental idea for a new type of park that included social services, a green space was commissioned and named after the assassinated president William McKinley. To this day the 69 acre park is the centerpiece of the neighborhood with several activities throughout the year.
"We have a stand in front of our house with books for people to take and or share/drop off. This little library stand was painting by me and other community members. My mother hosts monthly book club for children and adults. The children book club is called blue bird book club. The adult book club is called De Colores book club."
VISITThese murals were created in 2020 as part of a community and artist led initatitive to support an icecream vendor that was robbed earlier in the year in the neighborhood. They were able to raise over $2000 to support the vendor
VISITDayna is a former member of the McKinley Park Advisory Council. There they coordinate free programming for youth and families, organize Farmers Market, concert series. They are founding member of the McKinley Park Development Council which works to foster economic, cultural and social development within the McKinley Park community.
VISITJessica is a community member based in McKinley Park.
Irasema is a writer and Mckinley Park community member.
With my work I want to create an alternate reality one that is fueled by dreams and the myths of our past. I invoke long forgotten goddesses and gods of ancient cultures from Greek mythology to Aztec legends. My influences are: Graffiti, Mexican Folk Art, Street Art, Tattoos, Surrealism, Art Noveau, and Art Deco. I am also interested in metaphysics, religion,and philosophy. I study symbols and like to incorporate them into my paintings, illustrations, and murals. My use of color is derived from Graffiti and Mexican folk art and always changes depending on what I feel. I enjoy experimenting with a range of media such as: acrylics, pastels, paint markers, colored pencils, collage, aerosol spray paint, pencils, and pens. I love to take risks in my art and in my life as well.
VISITLatham Zearfoss works in Chicago, where they produce time-based images, objects and experiences about selfhood and otherness. Outside of the studio, they contribute to collective motions toward joy and reflection through social projects such as a queer dance party (Chances Dances), a critical space for white allyship (Make Yourself Useful), and an itinerant conference on socially-engaged art (Open Engagement). Latham graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in 2008 and the University of Illinois at Chicago with an MFA in 2011. They have exhibited their work, screened their videos, and DJed internationally and all over the U.S.
VISITMarya Spont-Lemus (she/her/hers) is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and informal educator. In all her work, she strives to enable a more empathetic and just society. With her partner, Andrés Lemus-Spont, she co-created the FrankenToyMobile (2014-2019; an ¡Anímate! Studio project) and is a co-founder of the Mobilize Creative Collaborative. She lives, works, and makes on the Southwest Side of Chicago.
VISITI am a musician, but have been working as a sound engineer on records lately.
Johnson College Prep is a school based in Englewood. Johnson offers general and advanced placement art course for our students. As well as numerous student clubs and enrichment opportunities for students to explore culture, self-expression, and different art forms.
"We provide free adult education and family literacy engagement to Chicago Early Learning families and community members (ESL and Spanish GED - our sister sites on the South and West side provide English GED services). We are working towards an arts integrated curriculum. Currently offering a monthly community craft hour inspired by our mentors/ trainers in MECA (Movimiento para la Educación Cultural y Autonoma)."
VISIT