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Wicker Park Herds Inspire New Violet Hour Mural, 'Cow Traffic Jam'

By Alisa Hauser | February 22, 2016 10:17am | Updated on February 23, 2016 8:33am
 New mural along The Violet Hour's exterior wall by Bucktown artist Dusty Rabjohn.
Cow Mural by Dusty Rabjohn, The Violet Hour
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WICKER PARK —  Adding a bit of farmland flair to Damen Avenue — where the nearest cow is several blocks north and in statue form — a new mural disguising the door to The Violet Hour puts bovines in the limelight.

"I call it cow traffic jam. It's a working title," said artist Dusty Rabjohn, who spent most of Friday and Saturday painting the mural, which features about a dozen cows gathered together and one off on his/her own, laying down.

The unusually warm weather allowed for the new mural to be created along The Violet Hour's 35-by-11-foot exterior facade at 1520 N. Damen Ave. 

Rabjohn, who maintains a live/work art studio in Bucktown and is also an instructor at the Illinois Institute of Art, was up next in the rotation to disguise the entryway to the speakeasy-style lounge with original art.

"I was originally scheduled for fall of last year but it got pushed back to February. Then it was a matter of waiting for a couple warm days, which we got over the weekend," Rabjohn said.

The Violet Hour, which opened in 2007 and traces its name to a T.S. Eliot poem, camouflages its facade and entry door with artwork every six to eight weeks.

Rabjohn said he drew inspiration from the busy location, just south of Wicker Park's Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues intersection.

"In my own mind I referred to it as 'cow traffic jam' or 'wicker herd.' I’m not sure where they are headed, but they are being held up," Rabjohn said of the cows in his mural.

Rabjohn said he was a little worried about how much foot traffic would be in that area while he was painting but it ultimately wasn’t that bad.

"The experience was actually really fun. I enjoy painting, the weather was beautiful, and it was cool to chat with people or just observe their reactions," he said.

 

Canine & Bovine #mural #timmy #herd #streetart #wickerpark

A photo posted by dusty rabjohn (@drabjohn) on

 

 

Day 1 of the #violethour mural. #wip #cows #trafficjam #mural #streetart #wickerpark

A photo posted by dusty rabjohn (@drabjohn) on

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