OLD TOWN — Street artist JC Rivera has completed his contribution to the Chicago Bears' mural project at the NewCity shopping center.
Rivera literally put the crowning touch on his mural at 1457 N. Halsted St. last week by including a crown hovering above a bear in a Bears jersey holding a football for a kickoff.
The crown was a nod to Rivera's trademark Bear Champ figure, which he said brought him to the attention of Chicago's NFL team and might well have inspired the mural project, which has seen four Bears-themed murals go up in Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square and the South Loop.
JC Rivera and his trademark Bear Champ figure: He left the boxing gloves out for his Chicago Bears mural, but tossed in the crown. (Instagram/jcrivera)
The project was commissioned by the Bears and organized by the Chicago Truborn gallery.
Rivera was putting the finishing touches on it Thursday before adding the details on the Bears' jersey and the crown.
The murals are intended to be "interactive" and to serve as background for Bears fans to take selfies. The artists and Chicago Truborn owner Sara Dulkin have said they'd be interested in continuing the project if the Bears are pleased with the public response.
