Ceramic fish, animals, birds and butterflies leap off the brick wall that doubles as a canvas for Glenview’s first community-created mural, designed to bring added vibrancy to an evolving downtown.
Painted over several months this year on the western wall of the Jimmy John’s building at 1746 Glenview Road, the mural, celebrating nature and community, was formally commemorated with a ribbon cutting before a crowd of more than 50 people on Sept. 14.
“Confluence: Life on Glenview’s West Fork,” is downtown Glenview’s first public mural, and its creation involved Glenview residents, students, professional artists and non-artists alike.
“I hope this brings some color and creativity, and also reflects the long tradition of art that Glenview has,” said Deb Anderson, president of the Glenview Art League, the group that led the mural’s development.
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“I also hope it also brings attention to nature and a sense of welcoming.”
The mixed media mural was made possible through a grant from the Cook County Arts’ Suburban Creative Placemaking program, which supports community-led art projects.
The mural, which is visible from the downtown parking lot connecting Glenview Road and Heinen’s Grocery Store, depicts the Chicago River, which runs just feet away, and elements of the river’s ecosystem, from fish to foxes, sunflowers to native grasses.
Along the top, figures representing Glenview’s citizens, service members from the former Naval Air Station Glenview, and even including early settler John Kennicott, walk across the bridge above.
The design features ceramic butterflies and other creatures, as well as mosaics, that were crafted by professional artists and residents, including children, during community workshops. All pieces crafted by residents were incorporated into the mural, said Anne Farley Gaines, lead artist.
“To see the detail that goes into it was the thing that really blew me away,” said Tom Pope, a member of the Glenview Art League, who prepared the wall for painting. “There were so many finite details.”
The riverfront design was led by Gaines with a team consisting of artists Sandie Bacon, Kenneth Cunny, Kathleen Brigidina, Joe Bednarski and Deb Anderson.
They were assisted by the Student Artist Team of Anne Emy Ladouceur, Suzie Kim, Yash Balani and Maddy Kim.
Brigidina said the mural connects the Glenview community to nature and to creativity.
“It allows us to have a conversation we wouldn’t (otherwise) have,” she said.
Gaines called the mural’s imagery a “collective vision” of many people.
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“It is indeed contributing something of lasting value to the village of Glenview,” Gaines said. “I trust that it will bless the community for years to come.”
Glenview elected officials hope to encourage the creation of more public murals, particularly within the downtown.
Earlier this year, the Village Board adopted guidelines for the Downtown Mural Program, which identifies eight commercial buildings for future murals and establishes an application process and evaluation criteria for designs.
The purpose of the program is to “add visual interest, tell local stories and build on the ongoing revitalization of Downtown Glenview,” the village said in a statement.