Children play near Rosemont’s new mural Saturday on the grass sports fields at the Rosemont Recreation Center on Barry Street.
A gigantic new mural, bursting with color and created by local students, was unveiled by Mayor Brad Stephens last Saturday, August 22, to great fanfare during a celebratory community picnic at the Rosemont Recreation Center on Barry Street.
This is the second mural created and completed by Rosemont high school and college students as part of the village’s two-year “It’s Art Here” program aimed at encouraging and supporting area children and teens interested in art.
Last year’s mural depicting iconic figures and key scenes from the area, which spans three exterior walls of two buildings, received so much positive feedback from residents and visitors that officials decided to do another next to the recreation center’s new turf sports fields.
Not only are Rosemont residents proud of the murals, but students also said they were happy to be able to learn from renowned Chicago artist Rahmaan Statik while drawing and painting the brand new mural.
As for the picnic, nearly 250 residents were present. Activities included an all-you-can-eat buffet with burgers, hot dogs and desserts, as well as music, face painting, outdoor games and more. The village donated scooters and helmets provided to participants through a raffle.
Children played soccer with village public safety officers and gathered to participate in several inflatable games outside on the lawn next to the mural.
All of the children interviewed Saturday about the mural told the Journal & Topics that they really liked it and that the artists did a great job drawing and painting “such a big” scene. The mural spans three long walls approximately three city blocks long and spans the entire width of the recreation center’s athletic field.
Nearly 25 Rosemont Public Security officers played soccer with the participants and served the picnic.
Twelve local artists were hired by the Rosemont Park District to design and paint the mural under the direction of Chicago artist Statik and recreation center director Omar Camarillo.
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