Art on Track — 2019
1 railway / 18 artists / 30 murals / 2 sculptures
This was the largest outdoor mural project at that time. 17 artists have begun working on 30 murals and 2 sculptures, all of which will be installed along the BNSF Railway in Berwyn’s Depot District.
Fifteen 2-sided mural installations by Sergio Farfán, Liz Flores, Vanessa Garza “Studio NEZ,” Gregory Gunter “WERM,” Nick Goettling, IN-ZO, Jessy Laubis, E. Lee, James Mosher, Benjamin Nelson, Adriana Pena, Frank Quintero, Joseph Renda, Marion Sirefman, ZORZORZOR. Two sculptures by Eric Budz and Peter Gray.
Sergio Farfán — “Kans” is the name of the characters I created. They represent the emotions I’m going through at the time. The use of horns and halos stands as a metaphor for the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, emphasizing how each one of us has a good and bad side. The common factor the characters share is that they reflect the masks we put on to hide our true feelings. Anyone can put on a façade and be happy on the outside but struggle with anxiety and depression on the inside. These are the stories I wish to tell and where I draw much of my inspiration from. At first glance, my artwork can have a very playful and nostalgic vibe but also have a very meaningful and serious undertone. The layers on the canvases reflect all the aspects of life we build up. Bumps, cracks, splatters, and drips are the stories that lay underneath the foundation of the person we become. instagram.com/farfanart/
Liz Flores — In my mural rendering, you’ll notice a group of women — on each side of the board. One has a hand outstretched, which would wrap around to the second board where the two women’s hands meet. These gestures are representative of that journey toward adulthood, having guidance from those who came before you. The figures are also running, paying homage to the realities of public transportation and trying to make your train. instagram.com/lizitto/
Vanessa Garza “NEZ” — Inspired by the prevalent history that Berwyn continues to respect and preserve, upon learning about this opportunity, I instantly knew I needed to depict two of the most historically defining features of our architecture in this city; that being bungalows and original stained glass windows. Inspired by my appreciation for architecture and active participation in the Preservation Berwyn Initiative, I respect the continuous efforts our city makes in terms of regulations to retain the integrity of our historical homes while also being able to construct—in terms of zoning—around these residential areas. I hope that this piece can lead to conversations and, in my hopes, become an image that celebrates our city as the City of Homes, as it truly is. instagram.com/studio__nez/
Gregory Gunter “WERM” — Greg envisioned bringing the animal world into the concrete jungle that is Chicagoland. Bringing a piece of nature back into a world surrounded by human-made materials. As nature is appreciated for its appearance, it is also revered for its metaphor. Pictured in thumbnails here and full-sized on the following side are two of nature’s most beautiful and symbolic animals. The Lion is strong and brave. The Elephant is wise and knowledgeable. To a passenger on the train, they see the Lion on their way to their daily destination. They mimic the lion’s boldness and conquer any new challenges thrown at them that day. On the way home, that very same passenger sees the elephant on the reverse side of the lion. Just like the intelligent Elephant, the passenger is reflecting on their day and what they learned, and how they can grow from their experiences. We are the Lion. We are the Elephant. instagram.com/werm312/
Nick Goettling — This rough concept rendering of the mural blends colorful abstract patterning with satisfying representational painting to create a dynamic, vibrant, and unexpected scene. The labels on the cans of paint will hold references to local community spirit, history, and character, giving a slight nod to the specifics of the area. The design is also easily understandable from a moving train but still satisfying, seen up close on foot, and is simple enough to be achievable on such a modest budget. instagram.com/lapsang.fang/
IN-ZO — instagram.com/in_zo/
Jessy Laubis — Beautiful Change. It depicts a female figure that is emerging from a cocoon and transformed into a butterfly/moth. Stars and the moon are among the motif depicted. The beautiful change from night to day. The alternate side of my mural will be a similar butterfly figure, but the additional motifs will depict images of the sun and day. The palette of the painting will have warm tones vs. cool. A beautiful change is meant to evoke ideas day to night, transformation, and individuality. instagram.com/jessylaubishandmade/
E. Lee — I find it very important to consider my audience, the way a mural will be displayed, and the location when coming up with ideas for my public work. This project is a free-standing two-sided wall. I want each side of my piece to engage the viewer and get them excited to go look at the other side. I’ll do this by offering a storyline an audience will find amusing and thought-provoking. I feel it’s my calling to bring the elements of contemporary art that I love to the greater public and make it more accessible. instagram.com/_e.lee_/
James Mosher — Mosher is a Chicago-based artist originally from Clearwater, FL. Having painted numerous murals, his trademark monkey character and vivid, comic book-like painting style has become an iconic part of the burgeoning Chicago mural scene. His work can be found in numerous other cities, including New York, Boulder, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Miami, Toronto, and St. Petersburg. instagram.com/moshershow/
Benjamin Nelson — My mural intends to communicate a sense of fun and whimsy. The bright colors and fun popsicle/monster theme is designed to catch the imagination. Berwyn is a place where families and children are celebrated, so this mural is designed to bring a smile to both kids and adults alike. Over the clean shapes, I have added my signature “doodle” line file. Both over the blue popsicle and the darker background. The background execution is created by using a matte background with a gloss doodle overlay which (depending on the light/angle) can display differently. instagram.com/benjaminnelsonart/
Adriana Pena — instagram.com/adrianapenaart/
Frank Quintero — Art must be everywhere and for everyone. With its ability to stir imaginations, inspire ambitions, and form dialogues, art creates a culture for people to flourish in. For the artists who create it, there is a shared responsibility to make the impossible possible. I am one of those artists, and creating reality from my boundless imagination is what inspires my art. The purpose of my work is to motivate my audience and encourage them to explore the subject matter. I abstract color, forms, space, and illustrative imagery in acrylic paintings and wooden sculptures. My art practice goes beyond my studio and out into the neighborhoods of Chicago as I create public art murals. The objective for my public art is to share my inspirational work with a wider audience, one that is found outside formal institutions like galleries and museums. My goal is to continue creating work in my studio and developing my portfolio of public art murals across cities. instagram.com/fqart/
Joseph Renda — The concept I am submitting for the two 4’x8’ back-to-back panels is based on the connection of trees. Aspen trees are unique and complex. Each tree is a network that shares a single root system sometimes spreading for miles. In the painting I have submitted, I depict this relationship with humanity. We all are connected at our roots and need to look out for one another as a community. Each panel will contain a similar image of the aspen tree with human eyes looking in every direction. Having this along a train line greatly enhances the concept. Hundreds of people and thousands of eyes pass through everyday looking, seeing, and connecting with one another. instagram.com/j.renda_artist/
Marion Sirefman — The pieces are all abstracts which admittedly do not relate to Berwyn’s history — but I hope you will agree are artistically original. sirefmanart.com
Zor Zor Zor — As far as a concept, I love to work organically. I love to see the wall in person, take in where I'm at and what I'm into at the moment, and work from there. I most often paint mask-like characters; however, for this, I would love to paint rabbits and mountains in my style. I created a quick rough rendering as an example (titled Berwyn Bunnies). Rabbits are my personal favorite animal, I grew up with them as pets, and I feel they carry a certain peace and innocence and reflective energy about them. They are calm, fast, and just want to hop around eating all your greenery. I also personally love mountains and hiking, and strongly believe people should take the time to explore nature. Being outdoors outside of the city rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul. Rabbits are something I have wanted to paint large scale for some time now, and would love the opportunity! instagram.com/zzzalwayz/
Eric Budz — This idea melds nature into the machine with a twist of modern technology. Yet still having a railroad theme. This sculpture will catch the eye both day and night and definitely bring foot traffic to observe this unique project. The main focus of the project is the flower that will stand at 5 feet. A metal pipe as the steam will protrude from the ground and be topped with a railroad signal light just as is used today to act as the bud of the flower. This light and stem will be powder coated to give longevity and color, then sealed with a gloss coating much like a car finish. At the base will be three bolt-on leaves to add to the illusion this metal structure is an actual flower growing from the ground. And spawning from the stem and leaves are young buds that will be train horns also powder coated. The flower part of this sculpture can be coated in any number of colors and can be decided by myself and the council, yellow for sunflower, pink for rose etc. instagram.com/eric_budz/
Peter Gray / Metal-i-Genics Studio — "Euclid's Dream" by Peter Gray is currently located at Mraz Park. From these experiences and my information regarding the City of Berwyn’s proposed locations, I propose a sculpture that is in the 72” to 96” height range and no larger in diameter than 30” to 40”. The sculpture would be affixed to a steel plate appropriately sized for the location. Total weight would be between 200lbs and 350lbs. I have found that bright colors, a variety of shapes, and light motifs or a sense of humor engage the viewer while providing a level of visual safety. The primary shapes of geometry, architecture, and art would be represented in steel that is painted in the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue that are supported with green elements. Some of the shapes are cut directly from other parts of the sculpture and present both positive and negative spaces/shapes. As I mention in my Artist Statement, I would hope the work brightens the commute to work and relieves the day’s stress on the way home. instagram.com/metaligenics/