ENGLEWOOD — Artists from across the city have come together to beautify The Montessori School of Englewood with murals.
The school will start its year off next month on a new campus. Running out of space in the old building they shared with O’Toole Elementary at 6550 S. Seeley Ave. led them to acquire what was once Barbara A. Sizemore Academy, said Rita Nolan, executive director.
The new campus, at 6936 S. Hermitage Ave., had a lot of African-themed art and colors, she said, which they removed and painted the school a neutral color.
Howard Bailey, the owner of the now-closed Dream Cafe, said the school didn’t have a bright, welcoming feel, so he asked Nolan if he could round up local artists to give the school a fresh vibrant new look.
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“I put the call out there for artists,” he said, and got 10 volunteers.
When students start school in September, they will be greeted with the faces of black legends like professional boxer Muhammad Ali; George Washington Carver, a black scientist and inventor, known for his many uses for the peanut; and Mae Carol Jemison, the first black woman to travel to space.
There will also be successful black Chicago figures, but not the usual entertainers, Bailey said.
"There are so many people that need to be highlighted and so many people these kids need to know about," he said.
The stairwell murals were coming along on Tuesday. Artist Gregory Penrice, who lives in Hermosa, used a lot of vibrant hues ranging from orange to blue.
“The colors will stimulate the kids and get them thinking,” he said.
When Bailey recruited him, Penrice said he couldn’t say no.
“It would have bothered me if I didn’t help,” Penrice said. “I thought this was a good opportunity and it was hard to say no.”
Englewood native Daniel Adams said he came on board because he hoped to inspire the students with his art.
He was on his knees outlining an image of a young girl on a hallway wall Tuesday. Adams called the piece a depiction of the "progression of man." The finished work will show a girl growing into a woman with wings. The wings are a nod to the school’s symbol, a butterfly.
Adams said has known Bailey for years and used to work with him when he owned a nightclub.
“I have a lot of respect for [Howard] and love what he does for the community,” he said. “This was a good opportunity to inspire the kids, and maybe they will want to get into art. They’ll know that people took time to give them something to look at.”
Bronzeville artist Jamal Jeffries, who used to attend school in the community, has been tasked with rendering the faces of Ali, Carver and Jemison.
Volunteering his time came easy, because helping is “what you’re supposed to do," he said. “I love giving back."
“It’s good to build with your brothers," Jeffries said. "It’s cool, plus the kids get to look at it, so it’s a win-win for everyone."
Humboldt Park resident Jordan Gilchrist will decorate the school’s gymnasium. He was asked to paint a minotaur, which is the mascot selected by the students. The creature from Greek mythology, which is half man, half bull, will be high up on the far wall and extend across both sides.
“I said yes because this sounded like fun,” he said. “It was cool getting a tour of the building and seeing how excited the staff were, and I loved their energy because it energized me.”
Other artists involved include Jimmy Williams, Stephanie Garland, Tyrue Jones, known as “Slang," and Won Kim
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