ARTISTS OF THE WALL FESTIVAL, JUNE 14 – 15, 2014

ARTISTS OF THE WALL FESTIVAL, JUNE 14 – 15, 2014

 Artists Galore, Great Music, and a Beach Dedication

WHAT:

The Artists of the Wall Festival is an annual celebration of community and creativity.  Coordinated by members  of the Loyola Park Advisory Council and staffed by a large cadre of volunteers, this festival brings neighbors of all ages together to paint the 600-foot long seawall at Loyola Park Beach in Rogers Park.  Each year there’s a new theme to provide inspiration as artists, young and old, create their masterpieces on one of 154 spaces that when combined create this new 5,000 square foot mural each year. This year’s theme is “Dreaming It Real.”


The festival began 21 years ago. Concerned residents (Katy Hogan, Richard Kaufman, Keith Lord, and Regina Robinson) wanted to deter crime and beautify the area by involving the police and community in painting the seawall. The effort has since become a celebration of Rogers Park - the city’s most diverse neighborhood - and its residents.  Proceeds of the festival go to support the many sponsored events of the Loyola Park Advisory Council and towards its scholarship fund.

In addition to the painting, this year’s Festival will also include:

·         The renaming of Pratt Beach to honor the late community Activist Tobey Prinz.  Prinz worked tirelessly to protect 13 beaches in Rogers Park and Edgewater from high-rise development. Her son, Fred Schein will speak during the

dedication.

·         A youth arts tent with hands on activities guided by Jessica Correa and Kristie Keenon of Mission Arts, Inc.

·         A Photo Show at this year's festival will showcase the talented photographers  of Rogers Park including a print of the late and now acclaimed Vivian Maier, which will be raffled off. Proceeds of the raffle will benefit the Loyola Park Advisory Council scholarship fund, which provides park program tuition assistance to children of families that normally could not afford to participate in the programs. The exhibit is coordinated by Eve Brownstone, Don Gordon, Andy MacDonald and Bill Morton.

·         An impressive and eclectic line-up of local musical talent on both Saturday and Sunday produced by Rogers Park musician Lucy Smith.

WHEN:

June 14 - June 15, 9:00 am to dusk. 

Each year the Artists of the Wall Festival is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Father’s Day weekend. Throughout the years, parents, especially Dads, have come to paint with their children. 

WHERE:

Loyola Park, Farwell Avenue (6900 North) at the Lake

WHO :

MUSIC STAGE LINE-UP:

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

Noon - 1:00 pm      Handyman Steel Pan

1:30 - 2:30 pm        Sami Grisafe

2:30 - 3:00  pm       Tobey Prinz Beach Dedication

3:30 - 4:30 pm        Vanessa Davis Band

5:00 - 6:15 pm        Jerome Croswell’s Beyond Belief

SUNDAY, JUNE 15

Noon- 12:45pm       Roots of Rhythm Drum Ensemble (Family Matters)

1:15 - 2:00pm         UGOCHI

2:30 - 3:30pm         Leonum

4:00 - 5:15pm         The Pratt Cattz (featuring Robert “Baabe” Irving III and Ernie Adams)

So mark your calendars and come celebrate “Dreaming It Real,” this Father’s Day weekend Saturday, June 14^th and Sunday, June 15^th at the Artists of the Wall Festival in Rogers Park.  It’s a celebration of art, music and community. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

KEITH LORD, Founder Artist of the Wall Festivalkeith@lordcompanies.com

KATY HOGAN, Founder/Artist of the Wall Festivalkaty@heartlandcafe.com
Publicist- Bill Morton Promotions

PRESS RELEASE - 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 passersby. 

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 Park’s Artists of the 
Wall. 

Businesses, churches, police, firefighters, lifeguards and people from age 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 its kind along the lakefront and running for twenty years, something unprecedented in 
Chicago. 

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-its-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 dads. In the past, fathers have 
called, happiness evident in their voices, because they finally had the day with their 
children 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 intact this year 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 15 to promote the beautification of our neighborhood, and taking a stand 
against violence. 

Music Stage Program

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: 

Katie Hogan (773) 764-9302 

Founder of Artists of the Wall Festival 

Keith Lord (312) 944-6270 

Founder of Artists of the Wall Festival 

Bill Morton Promotions- Publicist