Evanston Fourth July Association looking toward the next 100 years

The Evanston Fourth of July Association is hoping to shape its next 100 years in Evanston by ensuring all residents feel welcome at the festivities.

This year’s theme “Seeds of Change” will include large planters decorated by local artists, students and community groups sponsored by local businesses. The planters will be placed around the community starting in June marking the first city-wide scale effort by the EFJA.

After hearing from residents that some felt unwelcome at the event, EFJA Trustee Katherine Rush said the theme was chosen to make sure that never happens again.

“We’re trying to be a better Evanston,” Rush said. “We are focusing on the city’s and the events future growth as it moves into the next century.”

The EFJA suspects part of the reason for the lack of belonging is that the parade is typically held on the north side of the city. With such a large production, Rush said it’s difficult to alter the route so residents farther south in Evanston have to travel some to attend.

The celebration originally began over 100 years ago as a small group of mothers hoping to curb injuries from individual fireworks displays by having a city-wide display for all to celebrate. Since then, the celebration has expanded, moving the fireworks to the lakefront from a venue requiring a ticket for greater accessibility.

Rush said EFJA is hoping to modernize that accessibility message with the planter project.

10 artists have signed on to be a part of the project so far with Rush saying people have already begun reaching out to volunteer. Each artist/sponsor team gets to design their large rectangular planter and what plants/objects are placed in them.

“It’s just so hopeful and encouraging,” said artist Annette Marie O’Donnell who signed up to design one of the planters. “Art is such a unifier, I’m just so thrilled.”

O’Donnell has worked as an art teacher for the past 32 years, including at Evanston’s Roycemore School and the Open Studio Project at Evanston Township High School. She has previously done work centered around seeds called, “A Fruit is Born,” showcasing the magic of seeds and the fruit they can produce and a public arts project in Chicago of portraits of Black suffragettes from the city.

For her planter, O’Donnell has chosen to highlight how teachers and education can effect change with plans to include portraits of several Evanston teachers as inspiration. She took further inspiration from Lorraine H. Morton, a former Evanston educator and the first Black mayor of Evanston. She has also chosen to include native plants to provide for native pollinators.

“Getting in touch with the creative process for anyone can really spark and inspire change,” O’Donnell said. “Everybody has the ability to do that. It’s a matter of taking that time to connect to your own creativity.”

She does this with her current students as a high school art and French teacher in Chicago Public Schools.

“If everyone felt that they were empowered to be creative in a positive way, no matter how that would manifest … that’s important,” O’Donnell said. “To feel seen and to feel empowered.”

Students are already getting involved with the planter project with a student from Roycemore throwing their hat in the ring. Rush hopes to get students from other Evanston schools involved saying there are always people who are passionate about art if given the chance.

“It seems like a lot of work but to someone who has something to say, it’s an act of love for their neighborhood and their community,” Rush said.

The planters are being treated to withstand the weather in hopes they will last for years to beautify the city, said Rush. Sponsors get to decide where the planters are placed but if O’Donnell got her pick, she would place hers in the city’s predominantly Black 5th Ward.

“It’s a really special area in Evanston,” she said. “There’s a lot of hope of planting seeds there at the moment and this planter would add to that hope.”

Those interested in sponsoring or designing a planter have until early June to sign up. Each planter sponsorship costs $500 and anyone interested in joining the project or volunteering can reach out to EJFA via email at celebration@evanston4th.org .