Mundelein looking to add to outdoor art exhibits; ‘Public art expressions … give communities a stronger sense of place and identity’

Chris Woodard is fascinated by the customs of the Mexican holiday DÍa de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. As an artist, she’s often inspired by its symbols, and some of her work entails making sugar skulls out of wood.

As a member of the Mundelein Arts Commission (MAC) and a liaison of the village’s Beautification Committee, the retired teacher said she’s excited about the two groups’ most recent project, which is jointly sponsored by local flower shop Flowerama.

Walk through downtown Mundelein and you’ll no doubt bump into stars; Fiberglass stars, that is.

The star-shaped sculptures are a 3D version of the village’s logo. The public art campaign, titled “Stars on Parade” and launched in 2020, featured 15 stars that artists were commissioned to decorate in various themes that included titles such as “Starry Night,” “Birds of Lake County” and “Mundy Proud.”

It was the brainchild of MAC board member Gail Smith, Woodard said. Smith was influenced by other sculpture initiatives, such as Chicago’s “Cows on Parade.”

Now, the committee is looking for artists who can render their visions for the latest star installment.

The theme “Marigolds, Monarchs and Mexican Heritage” comes from the connection between the culture’s reverence for the flower and the butterfly, which makes a multi-generational, two-way migration each year between the U.S. and Mexico, Woodard said.

Those interested in throwing their hat in the ring for the opportunity are asked to apply through the mundelein.org website and upload a sketch of their concept no later than 5 p.m. on June 30.

The selected artist will have two months to complete the work and be paid $500 in two equal installments, at delivery and when completed, respectively.

Artists applying don’t have to be residents of Mundelein, Woodard said, but any connection to the village is taken into consideration, along with the artist’s alignment with the MAC’s chosen theme.

The new sculpture is scheduled to be placed by the pollinator garden at Commons Courtland Park and be unveiled by the fall to coincide with village events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, according to Colleen Malec, village senior planner and liaison to the commission.

“We are always looking for opportunities to celebrate Mundelein’s Hispanic and Latino community,” Malec said. “It’s a way of embracing and recognizing the people who live here and showcase that we’re a diverse community.”

According to the latest U.S. Census data, 36.5% of Mundelein residents are Hispanic.

Malec said the public-art effort has been successful in its effort to create a buzz, so much so that some local businesses have sponsored their own star sculptures to have them placed by their locations. They’ve become sort of landmarks, she said.

One such star sits outside the doors of Bill’s Pizza and Pub on Lake Street.

“People like to take pictures [of themselves] with it,” said restaurant manager Julio Pacheco.

Created by artist Tammie Trahan, the sculpture’s title is “Fish of the Midwest” and shows a three-dimensional fish atop the star ripping through the water, reaching to bite a lure that comically holds a tiny pizza slice.

“You really can get creative with these sculptures,” Woodard said. “It’s a shot to make your mark in the community.”

The fiberglass stars are purchased from Chicago-based Chicago Fiberglass Works, Malec said. Once the blank matte fiberglass star is decorated by the artist, the village takes the transformed sculpture to an automotive body shop that finishes it with a shiny topcoat to be UV-and-graffiti-resistant.

Malec said the sculptures are a point of pride for the village.

MAC members are active year-round with the goal to make the community a beautiful place, welcoming to residents, businesses and visitors. Woodard said all you have to do is walk through the downtown area to see examples of those efforts, through murals and other sculptures.

The group is a 10-member committee chosen by the mayor. It meets monthly, and practices and encourages the arts of all sorts, officials said.

According to Americans for the Arts, communities gain value through public art in a variety of ways.

The Public Art Network Council’s website states, “Places with strong public art expressions break the trend of blandness and sameness, and give communities a stronger sense of place and identity.”