Artists of the Wall 2013

Press Release For Artists of the Wall 2013

Twenty years ago there was a wall along the lake, trash strewn about, graffiti littering the area, and people that were questionable harassing the passerby's.

A small group of Rogers Park residents (Keith Lord, Katie Hogan, Regina Robinson, and Richard Kaufman) sat on Keith Lord's back porch and came up with a brilliant idea to change the face of this wall; An Artists of the Wall festival.

By cleaning up the area, painting the walls, and involving the police force in the painting, the negative personas that were in the area disappeared while the beautification of the area became apparent.

The event has, since then, turned into a celebration of Rogers Park and it's culturally diverse residents. People from all over have come to paint at Rogers Parks' Artists of the Wall. Businesses, churches, police, firefighters, lifeguards and people from eighteen months to eighty years old have painted one of the 154 spaces on this 5,000 square foot (600 feet) wall over the past twenty years.

The Artists of the Wall festival is a one of a kind, ever changing art project, the largest of it's kind along the lakefront and running for twenty years; something unheard of.

Artists of the Wall doesn't just promote both amateur and professional artists, it also promotes musicians by having an eclectic representation of Chicago-based bands. The bands and musicians that have played at Artists of the Wall have shared the stage with Windform, the first of it's kind art sculpture that was placed on city property.

Twenty Years on the Wall is our theme this Father's Day weekend. For years, this event has defined what Father's Day is to our Rogers Park dad's. In the past, father's have called, happiness evident in their voice because they finally had the day with their child and wanted to paint one of the spaces.

This year is special for another reason, too. Last year, one of the artists, Terrence, died as a victim of gun violence in Chicago. His family contacted the Loyola Park Advisory Council and asked that his space be left as is so that they can add their story to his art. Terrence's death has saved the lives of six others because he was an organ donor.

Don't forget to be at Artists of the Wall, 20 on the Wall this Father's Day weekend Saturday June 15th and Sunday June 16th to celebrate Rogers Park, community, beautification on our neighborhood, and taking a stand against violence.

Saturday, June 15

Noon - 12:45 pm         Handyman Steel Pan

1:15 - 2:00 pm             Jeannie Tanner Quartet

2:30 - 3:30 pm             Odd Folk

4:00 – 5:15 pm            Conjúnto

Sunday, June 16

Noon - 12:45 pm         Joe Dickinson

1:15 – 2:00 pm            Eastern Blok

2:30 – 3:30 pm            Meisha Herron

4:00 – 5:15 pm            The Pratt Cattz featuring Robert Irving

For more information please contact:

Keith Lord (312) 944-6270

Founder of Artists of the Wall Festival

Katie Hogan (773) 764-9302
Founder of Artists of the Wall Festival

Bill Morton (773) 850-0029

Bill Morton Promotions- Publicist 

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