MCKINLEY PARK — A handful of local artists have already contributed to the new Hoyne Park mural, but there's room for plenty more.
"The thing we're trying to prove, if we're trying to prove anything, is that artists can be a part of improving any neighborhood," said Art Olson, the artist who's leading the effort to create a new mural.
The project is about a third of the way finished, thanks to a grassroots planning committee and a cadre of several artists, including noted Pilsen muralist Jose Guerrero.
Casey Cora explains what kind of artists are wanted for the mural:
On a recent weekday, just before pouring paint into cut-off plastic water bottles and climbing a ladder to start working, Olson, 42, explained the concept for the colorful design, which makes the Southwest Side park the mural's focus.
Surrounding that are colorful portraits and flourishes, all paying tribute to the area's industrial history, public transportation and Hispanic population as well as the park's Little League team.
Together, it will be "a generational dialog of families at work and play," organizers said.
The effort began earlier last year when Olson and the park's advisory council decided to transform the roughly 150-foot long, 14-foot tall wall that's adjacent to ballpark and playground, 3417 S. Hamilton Ave.
"The condition of the walls of the viaducts and bridges [is] generally pretty gross ... and we're scraping through years of peeling and deteriorated paint to get to a sound surface," Olson said.
Since the initial call for artists was announced earlier this year, donated materials have trickled in — a few gallons of paint here, some volunteer manpower there.
Olson said he's looking for more artists, but not for divas. He wants artists who can help mentor the teens already contributing to the project.
For now, just one portion of the Hoyne Park mural will be completed before the weekend "Smoke Out'' event at the park, where the muralists will lead art-making sessions for kids.
The rest of the work depends on more donations and supplies.
But the fate of the mural might also depend on who wants to lay claim to the park, for at one end of the wall was some freshly tagged gang graffiti.
At the other was Olson on his ladder, coloring in some of the mural's geometrical shapes and looking for help.
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