Mural Honors Heroes
Photo courtesy of the Union Impact Center
Back of the Yards residents have worked together these past few months to make various murals around the neighborhood, including one on 49th and Loomis Street.
The mural is being painted in memory of all fallen heroes and counts with the help of many community members as well as the guidance of Rigoberto Robles, 23, a UIC senior student majoring in graphic design.
“I don’t really see myself as the [only] designer of this mural,” said Robles, “I’m just hoping to make the vision come alive, to be a memorial that stands out and communicates our own idea of what a memory is.”
Robles sketched drawings of what the mural would look like based on the input of residents and their ideas of what they believe needs to stand out. One side has the Chicago Fire Department’s logo while the other side has the logo of the Chicago Police Department.
Robles has been interested in art since he was a child. He found graphic art as his own identity. According to him, creating sketches and drawings is something that he believes defined him.
He was asked to be part of the mural due to his involvement with the Union Impact Center and saw it as an opportunity to finally paint a mural in Back of the Yards.
“I’ve painted murals before but never one in my own community,” said Robles.
Robles designed the drawings in Photoshop and he then transferred them into a transparency sheet to be projected on the mural wall in order to trace the lines and make the outlines. The next step will be to simply have participants to begin painting.
“Community support is the main ingredient,” said Robles.
Neighborhood youth mentors Paul Rutherford and Rafael Yañez, who started the Law and Criminal Leadership Program at Richards Career Academy, came up with the idea of involving youth participants from the leadership program in the making of the mural. Little by little, more people became interested and got together to plan further steps.
September 9, 2011 - 12:35 pm
Great work from everyone involved! The community will benefit and find hope with this mural.
Great job rigo.
September 10, 2011 - 11:02 am
Good job guys its good to see our youth and our future do something positve and not negative. Keep up the good work.
K
September 10, 2011 - 1:06 pm
It is always inspiring to see the youth willing to give back to their communities and share their many talents.
You are a great artist and even greater human being. Keep up the good work and you will most definitely reach your goals and reach out to many young men who are out their trying to find their identity.
Great Work! Proud to be part of the blood that runs through your veins. You are a great pride to the Negrete Family and to my other side of the family as well MARTINEZ!!!!!!
September 12, 2011 - 10:03 am
My deepest and highest esteem is rendered to all those who contributed to this mural proving the many statistics out there, wrong. To you Rigo, my little brother, what can I say my heart pumps out of myself with pride when I see you accomplishing so much. You are an unending inspiration to me. I’m proud of you and know you will work hard and relentlessly as always, continuing to achieve every dream in your mind. Love you!
September 11, 2011 - 3:00 pm
I’so proud of all the things you have done.I can imajine how prouyour parents are of all the things you have done.like your prima Maria said you are a great pride to the NEGRETE Family and offcorse the Robles family!!!!Love you mijo.
September 12, 2011 - 9:47 am
Awesome work Rigo! I am sure your parents are very proud of you! You should feel even more proud of yourself, that god has blessed with such great talent and that you have been given the opportunity to share them with the community and of course with the world. Congratulations on such a big accomplishment and may god keep blessing you with great opportunities and success.
September 14, 2011 - 11:36 am
Man, I was hopeing one day you would come here to La Haciendita and do a mural on one of my outside walls. Maybe one day it will happen. I would love to see it in person. Great on all you have done RIgo. Love
November 7, 2011 - 8:26 am
Rigo what can I tell you we are so proud of you and keep on working hard I know that you will have many things to give to the community. El orgullo es nuestro tu determinacion es toda tulla, nunca olvides de donde bienes y siempre ve hacia el frente que siempre estaremos contigo eso nunca lo olvides la vida te llevara por caminos que tu nunca imaginste siempre se umilde y lograras muchas cosas en tu vida.
Love Pera y familia