Mile of Murals

From HistoryWiki

Mile of Murals, 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue.

This area was visited during the 2011 Annual House Tour.

Mile of Murals was included in openhousechicago 2012 the (starting point was the Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue)

The brick cobblestone streets, shaded by the canopy of trees growing in the elevated track embankment, make the vintage single and two-story buildings along Glenwood Avenue, from Pratt north to Touhy, a unique district on Chicago’s north side. This beautiful area has been designated as the Glenwood Arts District. The concrete walls of the CTA Red Line tracks provide a canvas for murals depicting the area’s history and fusion of cultures. Formally dubbed the “Mile of Murals,” the stretch of artwork builds upon a series of murals done by earlier artists. The newest effort began in 2009 with the murals on the Morse Avenue "L" viaduct spanning Morse Avenue. The same year, the block from Morse to Lunt was painted with a mural on the theme of “Welcome to Rogers Park,” and from Greenleaf to Estes with the themes “Connect Origins to Destinations” and “Reveal Roots to Respect.” The block from Lunt to Greenleaf features a mural honoring the history of the No Exit Café and the Heartland Café.

The goal of the Mile of Murals, which is funded by SSA #24, is to brighten the community and draw attention to the Glenwood Arts District. The murals harmonize beautifully with the increasingly bustling business and artistic corridor, which has been hosting such seasonal and annual events as the Glenwood Farmers Market and Glenwood Arts Festival. The goal is to paint a block of the embankment each year, centered on a theme by artists selected through a community process.