<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3dvh2T_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3dvh2T_0vpcdBGp00" width="960" height="1280" ><figcaption>The underside of “Above &amp; Below,” new sculpture on Noyes Street. Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>Six years ago, in 2018, the owner of the building at 824-828 Noyes St. (Stacked &amp; Folded is on the first floor, residential tenants above) gave $10,000 to the City of Evanston for what is called ”neighborhood benefits.” That owner, Greg De Stefano, had spoken with the Public Art Subcommittee of the Evanston Arts Council previously about his hope to use the money for public art.Now in September 2024, there are two new pieces of public art on that block of Noyes. One is a sculpture, six-to-seven years in the “planning,” the other is a large mural that preceded the sculpture by two months, a surprise to many — if not most — in the community. Their backgrounds are intertwined.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4a5PYF_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4a5PYF_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>The CTA garage at 837 Noyes St. Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>De Stefano’s first wish was to make the across-the-street view nicer with a pleasing mural on the “eyesore” CTA substation, at 837 Noyes. In 2019, the Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG) was contacted about creating a painted mural for the unattractive facade.But the CTA said no, it didn’t want its building painted.The sculptureSo the public art group proposed and designed a colorful acrylic mural that would sit an inch or so away from the surface of that CTA building, attached to it with almost invisible fasteners. The rolling garage door would still need painting.But the CTA said no, it didn’t want anything fastened to its substation.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Bf1bF_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Bf1bF_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="563" ><figcaption>Suggested sites for art installations on Noyes Street.</figcaption></figure>Well, then, perhaps something could be done to uplift the looks of the old CTA station entrance, under the tracks. But that’s CTA property too, so it would surely say no. Perhaps something at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center?Judy Fiske, council member (at the time) for the First Ward (which includes the Noyes Center) liked that idea, expressing her interest in having some sort of visual acknowledgement of Daniel Burnham, the renowned architect of the Noyes building, dating from 1892. Perhaps a plaque of some sort.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0dXXf7_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0dXXf7_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>The Noyes Cultural Arts Center — this facade was the original Noyes School. Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>Noyes was designed by Burnham as an elementary school. (There have been two additions since.) It was made into a cultural arts center in 1980. To please Fiske, a sculpture was researched that would combine a tribute to Burnham and document the building’s landmark status, but the idea wasn’t popular with the Public Art committee.Jennifer Lasik, then cultural arts coordinator, suggested a light installation on the ceiling of the viaduct in that block. A company was called in to estimate such an artwork. A rippling rainbow of neon lights was proposed, but the cost was $70,000. At the time there were no funds other than that original donation.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Ctd9i_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Ctd9i_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>The CTA underpass at Noyes Street in Evanston. Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>The public art group, which didn’t know about the light installation inquiry, next proposed a mural on the west side of De Stefano’s building — but not a painted mural. This would be one of colorful acrylic shapes, mounted an inch or so away from the wall, similar to their earlier design for the surface of the CTA garage.However, the “city” parking lot, partly under the tracks, really belongs to the CTA, not the City of Evanston, and that would bring the mural one whole inch into the CTA’s air space. The CTA said no.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2V5bxo_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2V5bxo_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>The blank west wall of 824-28 Noyes St., and adjoining parking lot Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>Evanston resident Denise Barreto, the new chief equity &amp; engagement officer for the CTA, looked into the refusals, beginning with the substation. She learned that, although it was never mentioned at the time, the CTA was most concerned about damage, upkeep and who would take responsibility for any artwork — a not unreasonable concern, especially in light of current issues.Since it appeared, by the time of the mural turn-down, the PA subcommittee was committed to work with CPAG, the latter was then asked to design a standing sculpture, one that would go on city property. That would avoid dealing with the CTA.The artists from the public group came up with a lively and colorful design of overlapping, acrylic cut-outs, meeting the budget and seeming to satisfy almost everyone.The design was presented to the artist tenants of Noyes. A meeting was held between the tenants, the new Chair of Public Art, CPAG and representatives from Evanston. But it did not go well.“The problem was that the Noyes tenants had not been consulted about the commission early in the process. They are artists themselves and, reasonably enough, wanted a voice in the process,” said Toby Sachs, then-Chair of the Arts Council. The tenants really didn’t want the sculpture in front of “their” building.The artwork stalled, and in the meantime, the city placed colorful, plastic Adirondack chairs on the grassy, north parkway, by the Noyes building, across the street from the former Al’s Deli at 914 Noyes and the busy Coffee Lab at 910 Noyes.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2saqQ0_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2saqQ0_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>The welcoming Noyes Street Adirondack chairs. Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>The chairs were, and are, a successful attempt to make the street more friendly and welcoming said Paul Zalmezak, Evanston’s Economic Development Manager.Perhaps the sculpture could be placed right there, on the city parkway, at the corner of the Noyes parking lot and the CTA property? Near the chairs? Ah, yes, that was the final decision. Evanston would pour the necessary cement base, and perhaps provide some landscaping around it— maybe even lighting, so it would be visible at night.The sculpture was installed Sept. 11. It is called “Above and Below” and the artists are Andy Bellomo and Caesar Perez, from the Chicago Public Art Group. There is minimal landscaping and no lighting.The mural<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=27TdPk_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=27TdPk_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>Mural by “Pose” on the west side of 824-28 Noyes St., Evanston Credit: Gay Riseborough</figcaption></figure>De Stefano died in 2023. Before his death, he sold the 824-828 Noyes building.Bill Nash of Farnsworth-Hill is the current property manager. The new owners declined to be interviewed, so there’s no way to know if they were aware of De Stefano’s $10,000 gift. However, the Evanston Mural Arts Program at Art Encounter said the new owners contributed toward the cost of the new mural.The mural team saw that big, empty west wall, recognized it as perfect for a mural and approached the city, the building management and artist Jordan Nichols (known as “Pose”) about it. The new owners were contacted and approved the mural concept.The new, painted mural cost approximately $30,000 and was commissioned through Art Encounter. Pinsky calls it a “gateway” mural.“Twenty-thousand of those funds came from Evanston Thrives/ARPA funds. Art Encounter secured other grants for the balance,” said Paul Zalmezak, economic development manager for the City of Evanston.The mural is visible from the CTA above and is big and bright enough to catch the eye of anyone walking or driving east on the street. It was painted by the well-known pop painter and muralist Nichols, who is originally from Evanston, and assisted by Dustin Harris, local artist and DJ.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0CPh0n_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0CPh0n_0vpcdBGp00" width="1927" height="1330" ><figcaption>“Pose”, aka Jordan Nichols, painting in his Chicago studio. Credit: Jordan Nicholos</figcaption></figure>Artist Nichols grew up “in relation to the CTA” and “what a lifeline the train became for me as a youngster,” he said. He lived first on Brummel near the Howard Street station and, later, on Sherman, between the Foster and Noyes street stations. He graduated from King Lab and attended Chicago Waldorf for high school.“I came to art through graffiti,” Nichols said. “So my informal training, via painting on the street [in the early 90s] exposed me to not only painting large scale in public but also to Chicago’s rich history of murals.”Nichols holds a bachelor of fine arts in painting from the Kansas City Art Institute and considers himself primarily a painter rather than muralist, though he is also a printmaker and sculptor. He maintains a studio on Chicago’s North Side, but he “loves the chance to work outdoors when the opportunity arises.”Regarding the content of the design, neighborhood input was sought, said Lea Pinsky of Art Encounter. Nichols’ statement says: “This mural design is a personal tribute to the energy of the Noyes Street district — Evanston is a place that nurtures the human spirit and where creativity blooms.”“Images in the mural relate to growth and development, intellectual striving, the energy of creativity,” his statement says. There is an obvious homage to comics and superheroes, references to the midwest and to Northwestern University, with lots of purple. The aim is to communicate the positive, buoyant energy of the Noyes Street district.It has been mostly well received by the residents and businesses on Noyes.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=20pmwJ_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20pmwJ_0vpcdBGp00" width="750" height="536" ><figcaption>Mural by “Pose” at Washington Street &amp; Chicago Avenue, before deterioration. Credit: Pose studio</figcaption></figure>In 2016, Nichols did another big, colorful mural in Evanston, at 600 Washington St., on and around the CTA underpass there, paid for by the Main-Dempster Mile. That mural peeled off in strips not long after it was painted. Pinsky said it was because the CTA primed the wall improperly.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2MFxny_0vpcdBGp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2MFxny_0vpcdBGp00" width="1024" height="753" ><figcaption>Mural by Ben Blount, replacing damaged mural by “Pose”, Washington Street, Evanston. Credit: Bernard Friedman</figcaption></figure>The Washington Street mural was removed and replaced in 2021, the walls first primed properly by the mural arts program. The new design was by Evanston letterpress artist Ben Blount, and painted with help from several Evanston artists, including Daniel Burnett, using the beginning phrase of the city’s 2019 resolution committing to ending structural racism and achieving racial equity.“Placemaking” is the big thing nowadays in urban planning — the drive to energize neighborhood centers, bring in diverse people by offering diverse attractions, places to socialize and welcoming artwork. These two new pieces of art on Noyes Street definitely bring energy and attention to the Noyes business district and its public spaces.</div></body>

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The stories behind the two new pieces of public art on Noyes Street

Six years ago, in 2018, the owner of the building at 824-828 Noyes St. (Stacked & Folded is on the first floor, residential tenants above) gave $10,000 to the City of Evanston for what is called ”neighborhood benefits.” That owner, Greg De Stefano, had spoken with the Public Art Subcommittee of the Evanston Arts Council previously about his hope to use the money for public art.

The stories behind the two new pieces of public art on Noyes Street

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