BUCKTOWN — A Bucktown organization is calling for an artist to help deter graffiti by painting a new neighborhood-themed mural under the viaduct along Webster Avenue near the Kennedy Expy.
Bucktown Community Organization President Steve Jensen said the group wants to pick a muralist now that the city is finally thawing out from the long winter.
The area is where a more industrial side of the neighborhood meets the residential side, and the walls underneath the Metra viaduct show some tagging as well as streaks of white where marks were painted over.
"The main thing is to stop graffiti on those walls," Jensen said.
The art should represent the "essence of Bucktown," but otherwise Jensen said he doesn't have any rules in mind. While some mural projects take years to design, vote on and create, Jensen said he hopes this particular process will be much simpler and move quickly.
"We're just entertaining any muralists who want to show us something that might work," he said.
The mural will be paid for by a general fund of the organization, which is pooled through various fundraising events, Jensen said.
Those interested should email their information to bucktown@bucktown.org and include any links or examples of previous work. The organization isn't yet looking for specific designs, just an artist, he said.
"We're just going to pick something that's visually appropriate for the neighborhood," Jensen said.
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