LINCOLN PARK — Works of art by Lincoln Park High School students are being displayed in storefront windows along Clark Street thanks to a partnership with the neighborhood's chamber of commerce.
Up until last week, the art filling the storefront windows had been professionals' work.
The nine pieces of art for the "Crossing Cultural Borders" exhibition are the product of a collaboration between students in Spanish and art classes.
Displaying the students' work, especially along the bustling stretch of Clark, is not only a great way to beautify the street, but serves as a reminder of the importance of arts in the public school system, according to Beth Drake, Lincoln Park High School's visual art department chairwoman.
"It's another chance for us to showcase what our artists do," she said.
The works of art are in the storefronts at 2320 N. Clark St., 2324 N. Clark St. and 2342 N. Clark St. The storefronts where the art is located are vacant, and the display space was donated by James Winkler of the Marwin Company.
To create the "Crossing Cultural Borders" exhibit, students studied a series of contemporary artists and drew on their own experiences with borders, both literal and metaphorical.
The high school plans to change out the exhibition in January with a new series and will continue rotating the students' work every few months.
"We are thrilled to connect high school student artists to the available space in our community to showcase their work," said Kim Schilf, president of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. "The Clark Street experience will certainly benefit from their vision."
