Queer artist's mural celebrates diversity of Andersonville
Residents and visitors of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood are enjoying a colorful new mural by Chicago artist Molly Costello (they/them or she/her) that celebrates the diverse lives in the community.
The large-scale installation, titled "Life at the Intersections," is on the south wall of The Clark, at 5346 N. Clark St. Costello interviewed 77 local residents and business owners as inspiration for the piece, which also includes highlights of the neighborhood's LGBTQIA+ and activist legacies, in hopes of inspiring reflection on alternative community safety, wellness, mutual support and care.
Costelloa queer illustrator, food grower, beekeeper and seed saver living in Rogers Parksaid in a statement, "Life at the Intersections' pushes us to imagine a safer, more inclusive future that honors the intersections of our identities and helps us generate a future of collective wellness, environmental stewardship, abundance and play.
"A deep thank you to those individuals who shared their lived experiences of working and residing in Andersonville. Their honesty about the area and hopes for the future were poured into these visuals. I hope I was able to reflect their stories and desires through this image. Much gratitude to the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce for the enthusiastic and logistical support as well as Rae Wilson and Nell Seggerson for spending many hours in the sun painting with me!"
The Chicago Association of Realtors, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and SSA #22 funded the mural. A formal dedication of the artwork is planned for Friday, Sept. 23.