Little Village Public Library Debuts Mural Created By Local Artists: 'It’s A Message Of Hope But Also A Message Of Love'

LITTLE VILLAGE — A mural aimed at inspiring hope and highlighting love for public libraries has been unveiled in Little Village.

Dubbed “Home,” the mural was created by muralist SentRock and youth artists from Yollocalli Arts Reach, a youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art. It’s at the Little Village Public Library, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave.

Yollocalli Director Vanessa Sanchez said the mural aims to attract more people to the public space.

“The library serves as a connector for the North and South Lawndale communities, and we wanted to inspire hope of what it means to be in a library and what a library means to the neighborhood,” Sanchez said. “It’s a message of hope but also a message of love.”

Along with SentRock, artists Elizabeth Cardona, Clue, Grim, Norma Ojeda, Isabella Scott, Frillz and LoadedSpinach helped paint the mural over a span of three weeks.

SentRock and Yollocalli youth artists paint the Home mural at Chicago Public Library in Little Village. Credit: Mercedes Zapata

The mural features children reading, a monarch butterfly, birds flying through broken bricks, and various characters. It illustrates how reading can open worlds for themselves and their future, SentRock and Sanchez said.

“We wanted to create a sense of ownership in the community,” SentRock said. “The library is home for people in the community. I want kids, students to see that building and say, … ‘This is cool.’”

SentRock said the piece blends modern murals, street art and graffiti.

“We wanted to bring good vibes to the area and make it very inviting to the community,” the artist said.

After coronavirus upended in-person activities for large groups, Yollocalli moved to remote activities to serve people ages 13-24. The group, which has worked on murals every summer, took on the special project to engage young up-and-coming artists from the neighborhood.

The project was a great way of getting young people involved and making them feel part of the “positive growth and development within the community,” Sanchez said.

The piece was commissioned by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Art Group at the Little Village Public Library.

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Little Village Public Library Debuts Mural Created By Local Artists: ‘It’s A Message Of Hope But Also A Message Of Love’

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