Young Artists Create a New Mural for the Des Plaines Public Library

Nineteen artists between the ages of six and twelve are creating a public mural that will be installed permanently at the Des Plaines Public Library this fall. The mural will be composed of thirty six 12” by 12” painted canvases created this September during two class periods at the Des Plaines Park District. The theme of the mural is “What Des Plaines Means To Me.” The painters are using photographs of some of their favorite locations in the City, including the original McDonalds Restaurant, the Des Plaines Public Library, the Sugar Bowl Restaurant, the Choo-Choo, and the gazebo at Lake Park, as references for their paintings. The mural will be unveiled at Des Arts, a weekend long celebration of “The Creative Spirit,” October 19-21 at the Des Plaines Public Library.

The artists are working under the direction of watercolorist/photographer, Janet Thompson, a member of the Des Plaines Art Guild and an art teacher at the Des Plaines Park District. During the first class period, the nineteen artists sketched their pictures onto primed canvas. Then, during the second class period, they painted the scenes using acrylics. “The mural will transform a bare wall into a colorful walk through Des Plaines,” said Thompson. “We still have more than a dozen canvases yet to be designed and painted,” she said. “We are hoping this will be an ongoing community project for children of all ages.”

Presented by the Des Plaines Arts Council, Des Arts will showcase dance, art, music, and drama performances, exhibitions, and hands-on how to demonstrations. Highlights of the weekend will include Irish, Mexican, South Indian and Hip Hop dance performances and instruction; an exhibition of photographs by the Des Plaines Camera Club; printing making, silk painting, and scratch board demonstrations; as well as storytelling and poetry writing. The Northwest Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, the Hawaiians Music Club of Oakton Community College, the Northwest Choral Society, and students from Maine West will perform musical selections Saturday and Sunday. Oakton Community College’s OMG Improv Players and thespians from Maine West High school will also perform sketches and one act plays. “We are very excited for everyone to see the amazing talent we have in our community,” said Linda Traina, President of the Des Plaines Arts Council. “We are especially proud of these young painters. Creating artwork for an environment where many people have the opportunity to see it is one of the most rewarding aspects of mural painting,” she said.

For more information about art classes at the Des Plaines Park District call 847-301-5711 or visit www.DPParks.org. For more information about Des Arts call Jo Bonell at the Public Library at 847-376-2789 or visit www.dppl.org/des-arts.