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University unveils public art mural VOL. 20 • NO. 23
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022
City’s Public Arts Commission turns out for dedication of ‘Be Bold, Be Elmhurst’
FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
While it seems like it’s been rainy and cloudy throughout April and May, the sun graciously came out on Tuesday, May 17 to make perfect weather for the unveiling of the new public art mural on the north side of the R. A. Faganel Hall athletic building on Park Avenue. It is a bittersweet project because while it is a beautiful piece that will not just enhance the University but the entire community of Elmhurst, it also signals the final event associated with the University’s Sesquicentennial celebration over the past year. Dr. Troy VanAken, president of Elmhurst University, spoke at the event and introduced the artists, who are Elmhurst University art faculty members Rafael Blanco and Andrew Sobol. He went on to share the artists’ various struggles, which included many rainy days that occasionally rinsed away the paint, causing them to have to redo several sections. Blanco is a professional muralist who has painted award-winning, large-scale public art murals in Nevada, Indiana, Colorado, Maryland, California and throughout Illinois. Sobol is chair of the Elmhurst University art department, a graphic designer and creative director whose wide-ranging projects include branding, marketing design and web application development. Both artists are donating their time to paint the mural. Blanco and Sobol have been working on the project for the past two years—they first came up with the idea as a way to contribute to the University’s 150th anniversary cele-
brations, which began in 2021. The artists consulted frequently with the City of Elmhurst and the City’s Public Arts Commission to make sure their proposed designs would comply with the City’s mural ordinance, which bars murals from containing
logos, slogans or other messages that could be viewed as advertising. Elmhurst University students, faculty and staff were invited to vote on the final design from among four. More than 775 votes were cast and “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst” received
more than half. In developing that design, the artists wanted it “to unify the university and community, to inspire and make a positive impact,” according to Blanco. “The portrait in the design—a
face, painted in and emerging from bright colors—is intentionally ambiguous, so that we could celebrate and include as many people as we could,” he said.
See MURAL, Page 21
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A lone rider cycles by the new public art mural now emblazoned on the north wall of Fanagel Hall Athletic building at Elmhurst University, a project celebrated not only for the university but also for the City’s Public Arts Commission. A crowd of about 100 people gathered for the dedication led by Elmhurst University president Dr. Troy VanAken, and included Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin, John McKinnon, executive director of the Elmhurst Art Museum and Public Arts Commission member, and the artists themselves – Andrew Tim Curry Ins Agcy Inc Sobol and Rafael Blanco. More photos inside. Here’s the deal, our Home Tim Curry, Agent Elmhurst, IL 60126 Bus: 630-833-8300 Here’s the www.timcurry.net
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