On Tuesday, the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation announced a new mural series as part of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. The Experience C-U Foundation and 40 North, the Champaign County Arts Council, declared this initiative to celebrate key themes in local African American history through public art.
The project is funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism. 93 artists from 32 states and five countries responded to a call for artists, resulting in the selection of four artists who will create murals at various locations around Champaign-Urbana.
In a press release by the Experience C-U Foundation, project organizers discussed the initiative and goals.
“It was remarkable and totally humbling. There were literally dozens of world–class artists to choose from. We are so thrilled to welcome these amazing artists to transform and enrich our walls with such an inspiring narrative,” said Kelly White, executive director of 40 North. “I expect that in the near future, Champaign–Urbana could be on the map as one of the top destinations to see and experience some of the greatest African American muralists in the country.”
Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs from Boston will create a mural reflecting the theme of “African American Educational Excellence” at 1401 E. Main St. in Urbana. The Housing Authority of Champaign County owns the building, and the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, which occupies it, has also agreed to support the mural’s development and installation.
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Jeremy Biggers from Dallas will focus on the theme of “African American Firsts and Barrier Breakers” at 212 E. White St. in Champaign. This building, along with the one at 511 E. White St. in Champaign where Georgie Nakima from Charlotte will portray “The Power of Black Women,” is owned by Fairlawn Real Estate, which has agreed to support both murals’ development and installation.
Oscar Joyo from Chicago will depict the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail Timeline on three walls at 1801 W. John St. in Champaign, a location also owned by Fairlawn Real Estate.
The Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation is a nonprofit organization that generates resources “to promote a welcoming destination experience for visitors to strengthen economic opportunities and enhance the lives of residents.”
The Champaign County African American Heritage Trail is a project organized by Experience C-U that celebrates the contributions of African Americans in the area. Its stated mission is “to educate today’s residents and visitors about the rich cultural history of a people whose stories have been largely unrecognized.” The trail features signage and art pieces across the county, including 32 sites in the Champaign-Urbana area.
40 North and the Experience C-U Foundation say that they hope that the success of these murals will lead to more installations in the future. They encourage property owners interested in hosting a mural and donors who wish to support the project to reach out. For more information, contact Experience C-U.
“This is a full–circle moment for the Heritage Trail,” said Jayne DeLuce, director of the ECU Foundation. “We’ve wanted to bring murals to the community as part of the Heritage Trail for years, but we simply didn’t have the resources.
