Field House Murals
Both in museums and on city streets, art plays an important role in our society. At many Chicago Park Field Houses, art has been on public display for years, telling stories of our forefathers. These murals make a public statement about not only our culture, but also a time period or a moment in history. They “speak” on a very large scale.
Heather Beckers, CEO of the Chicago Conservation Center, launched a campaign a few years ago with the Chicago Park District, hoping to bring the dirt-stricken murals back to life by restoring them to their original condition. The restorers had the challenge of removing 100 years of dirt, grime, and air pollution. The restoration process requires the use of conservation solvent to remove the layers from the surface without stripping away the original paint. It is a process that is time-consuming and tedious.
These murals were originally painted during the WPA and New-Deal era by emerging artists from the Chicago area as well as students from the Art Institute of Chicago. They tell stories about our early American history and the foundation of our culture. The newly-restored murals made their debut in June, and their grand transformation was remarkable.
Information on murals, locations, and history can be found here. (pdf document)
Chicago Conservation Center: 730 N Franklin St (Suite 701); 312-944-5401 (Mural Inquiries)
Office hours
Mon – Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
http://www.chicagoconservation.com/
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