Art installation honors living history, heroes of Chatham neighborhood
CHICAGO — In honor of Black History Month, WGN’s Erin McElroy has a special story about a new art installation in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.
For the last year Chicago artist Kristen Williams has been working nonstop on a handful of portraits to remind us that Black History is as much about those who went before as it is about those walking among us in our own neighborhoods today.
She is also the store manager of Mahilia’s.
Her life-size series of portraits is called the “Unsung Heroes of 79th St.”
“The people of Chatham are very proud,” she said. “The people that live here are very proud of their community.”
For months she has been working on the eight portraits of Chatham community leaders and business owners to show others Black History is living among us.
News of the art installation came as a surprise to those featured, like Brown Sugar Bakery owner Stephanie Hart.
“I was just honored to be part of it and then when I saw it, I was like, ‘Wow,’” she said. “What a cool way to see yourself through the eyes of someone else and that’s not a photograph. That’s her interpretation. And I actually felt really warm and good.”
The portraits will be hung in the windows of Mahalia’s Gifts at 79th and Evans beginning this week. Each one includes a QR code where you can see videos and interviews with each one.
“So we can see ourselves. So the kids and the people see this is us. This is our history, ” Williams said.
There are life size reminders to every person passing of the unsung heroes living among us..
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
