CALUMET REGION SITES
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  • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour Home
    • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour 2
    • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour 3
    • Blues Brothers Southeast Chicago Sites Tour 4
  • Calumet Region Green Sites Tour
    • South Chicago LEED Designation From Pollution to Solution: LEEDing the Way in Southeast Chicago
    • Green Buildings >
      • Advocate Trinity Hospital, 2320 East 93rd Street
      • A Metal Scrap, 9301 S. Baltimore Avenue
      • AOS, 2835 East 106th Street
      • Casa Kirk Apartment Complex, 3236 to 3260 East 92nd Street
      • Claretian Housing's "Buffalo Bunch"
      • Harry B. Deas 4th District Police Station, 2255 East 103rd Street
      • Heppner House, 8628 S. Marquette Avenue
      • 7th & 10th Ward Streets and Sanitation Building, 9160 S. Mackinaw Avenue
      • Solar Verde Estates, 96th Street and Marquette Avenue
      • South Chicago’s First LEED-Certified Building
      • Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF) Office, 13300 S. Baltimore Avenue
      • Southeast Side Elementary School,
      • Victory Centre of South Chicago
      • Villa Guadalupe
      • James F. Vodak East Side Library, 3710 East 106th Street
      • Vaccaro Trucking, 10554 S. Muskegon Avenue
      • 8555 S. Green Bay Avenue
    • Green Gardens >
      • Artists Garden, 8951 S. Brandon Avenue
      • Bowen High School Campus Green Corps Gardens
      • Buffalo Seniors Inspirational Garden
      • Hoxie Prairie Garden, 10549 S. Hoxie Avenue
      • Laquan McDonald and Trayvon Martin Community Gardens
      • Marian R. Byrnes Nature Area, Van Vlissingen Prairie, East 103rd Street
      • South Chicago Senior Citizens Garden, 3130 E. 92nd Street
      • Victory Garden, 8915 S. Exchange Avenue
      • 88th and Exchange Block Club Garden, 8805 S. Exchange Avenue
    • Green Open Spaces and Parks >
      • Big Marsh Mountain Bike Park, 116th Street & Stony Island Avenue
      • Chicago VeloDrome Campus, 87th Street and Buffalo Avenue
      • Clara D. Schafer Park, 89th - 90th S. Mackinaw Avenue
      • Dead Stick Pond, 122nd Street and Stony Island Avenue
      • Eggers Grove Forest Preserve, 112th Street and Avenue E
      • Hegewisch Marsh, 130th Street and Torrence Avenue
      • Heron Pond, South 122nd Street
      • Indian Creek
      • Indian Ridge Marsh, 122nd Street, between Stony Island and Torrence Avenues
      • John Beniac “Beans” Greenway, 3925 E. 104th Street
      • Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parking Lot Bioswale, 2338 East 99th Street
      • Powderhorn Lake and Prairie, 138th Street and Brainerd Avenue:
      • South Chicago People’s Park, 9100 S. Buffalo Avenue
      • Steelworkers Memorial Park, East 87th Street and Lake Michigan
      • Wolf Lake’s William W. Powers Conservation Area & Wolf Lake’s Hammond, Indiana, Memorial Park
  • PUBLIC ART TOUR
    • SOUTH CHICAGO PEOPLE'S PARK, 91st Street and Buffalo Avenue
    • ARCHITECTURE >
      • James H. Bowen High School
      • Henry Bessemer Park Field House
      • BURLEY APARTMENTS -- COMMUNITY ROOM
      • Immaculate Conception Church 88th and Commercial Avenue
      • Macias Produce, 8933 S. Commercial Avenue
      • MB National Bank
      • Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 3200 E. 91st Street
      • St. Michael the Archangel Church
      • SkyArt
    • "Drive-By" Art >
      • Drive-By Art, 83rd Street and South Shore Drive
      • Germano-Millgate Apartment Complex, 87th and Burley
      • 1st Choice Market
      • 79th Street & Exchange Avenue "Drive-By Art" Wall
    • Murals >
      • Block-long Mural, 87th Street & Baltimore
      • BLUES BROTHERS MURAL AT CALUMET FISHERIES, 95TH STREET & THE CALUMET RIVER
      • Community Heroes Mural at 91st Street & Commercial Avenue
      • "FAMILIA" MURAL AT METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES, 3062 E. 91st Street
      • From "Jersey Barriers" to "Infocades" -- Barricades as a Muralist's Canvases
      • Mural, "the Crucible," at US Bank, 92nd Street & Commercial Avenue, South Chicago
      • Eduardo Luna with X-Men -- Murals at Brandon Avenue, near 92nd Street
      • 100th Street "East Side Pride" Mural
      • "South Chicago Together As One" Mural, 90th Street & Commercial Avenue
      • Southeast Corner of 87th Street & Houston Avenue
      • Vietnam War Veterans Memorial and Mural, 91st Street & Brandon Ave.
    • Sculpture >
      • Columbus Statue and Drake Fountain, 92nd Street and Exchange Avenue
      • Ironworkers Sculpture and Veterans Memorial, 100th Street, Ewing Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard
      • South Chicago Art Center Sculpted Planters 3217 E. 91st Street
      • Steel Garden, by Richard Hunt, 79th Street and US-41
      • Steelworkers Memorial Statue, 87th Street and Lake Michigan

From "Jersey Barriers" to "Infocades" -- Barricades as a Muralist's Canvases"

In 2012, community artist, Joann Podkul Murphy, decided to make artistic use of cumbersome, unattractive concrete roadblock devices, known as "Jersey Barriers,"  which had been emplaced in her neighborhood to control vehicular traffic between the residential community and neighboring Calumet Park.   Long a magnet for graffiti, the barriers had been a constant depressing eyesore to residents and visitors.

Thus, Joann -- a retired Chicago Public School System high school teacher/principal -- designed mural art to transform the ugly obstacles into attractive, informative "Infocades" to capture the attention of neighboring Taylor Elementary School classes who use the route to Calumet Park, which their classes often frequent. 

This page features the "Infocade" murals that Joann created -- with the permission of the 10th Ward Alderman -- to enhance -- and inform -- residents and visitors about the natural and political environment in which they live. 

From "Jersey Barriers" to "Infocades" -- Barricades as a Muralist's Canvases

Infocade 1: "Neighbor Photocade"(99th Street between Avenues H and G, the westernmost side of these particular Jersey barriers)
This westernmost line of barriers was designed to provide depictions of the 99th Street block residents, on what Joann called the "Neighbor Photocade."  When the final paint coat was completed and dried, she outlined, in pencil, images from numerous photos taken during the block's annual block party, with the expectation that family members would paint their images to complete the work.   While that had been stated during one of the block parties, those outlines have not yet been filled in.
​

(We learned from that experience that casual agreement needs to be solidified with an action plan.)
BEFORE:
Base Coat:
FINAL COAT PREPARATION:
Picture
Outlining photo images on the final coat:

Infocade 2: "270: The Electoral College"

This "Infocade" was constructed on the easternmost set of Jersey Barriers on  99th Street, facing Avenue G

Infocade 3: "Meet Lake Michigan"

This infocade is painted on the reverse side of the Electoral College infocade, at 99th Street and Avenue G.    Lifelong experience as resident, student, and educator convinced Joann that most visitors did not comprehend the vastness of the great lake bordering their neighborhood.  Thus, "Meet Lake Michigan" greets pedestrian visitors to Calumet Park just before they do "meet Lake Michigan." 😊 

Infocade 4: 98th Street and Avenue G:

Joann chose to create this Infocade mural for the same reasons that she created those on 99th Street, between Avenues H and G, but also to express her appreciation of her lifelong relationship with the park.
Picture
The prepared, blank, canvas
Picture
Laying it out
Picture
Joann's dedication of the Infocade to neighborhood children -- including her late siblings

Infocade 5: "The Cal-'uve-Met River" 99th Street, on east side of westernmost Jersey barrier

Given that many whom Joann queried about the location of "The Calumet River" had no idea of the answer, Joann decided that it might help to provide visual cues.  Thus, this "Infocade," completed in June. 2018.
Picture
Picture
www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Pr2RAyySbLEVIDEOS:
2012:
"Ed Here"  Gives "Infocade" Facelift to  Street Barricade: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Pr2RAyySbLE


2018: From  Jersey Barriers  to  Infocades -- Barricades as a Muralist's Canvases: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=A3t4dVLap9Q

CancelSave changes061518 Infocade Updates: 
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=bKT1mQPKpHU
 
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  • HOME PAGE
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour Home
    • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour 2
    • Blues Brothers South Chicago Sites Tour 3
    • Blues Brothers Southeast Chicago Sites Tour 4
  • Calumet Region Green Sites Tour
    • South Chicago LEED Designation From Pollution to Solution: LEEDing the Way in Southeast Chicago
    • Green Buildings >
      • Advocate Trinity Hospital, 2320 East 93rd Street
      • A Metal Scrap, 9301 S. Baltimore Avenue
      • AOS, 2835 East 106th Street
      • Casa Kirk Apartment Complex, 3236 to 3260 East 92nd Street
      • Claretian Housing's "Buffalo Bunch"
      • Harry B. Deas 4th District Police Station, 2255 East 103rd Street
      • Heppner House, 8628 S. Marquette Avenue
      • 7th & 10th Ward Streets and Sanitation Building, 9160 S. Mackinaw Avenue
      • Solar Verde Estates, 96th Street and Marquette Avenue
      • South Chicago’s First LEED-Certified Building
      • Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF) Office, 13300 S. Baltimore Avenue
      • Southeast Side Elementary School,
      • Victory Centre of South Chicago
      • Villa Guadalupe
      • James F. Vodak East Side Library, 3710 East 106th Street
      • Vaccaro Trucking, 10554 S. Muskegon Avenue
      • 8555 S. Green Bay Avenue
    • Green Gardens >
      • Artists Garden, 8951 S. Brandon Avenue
      • Bowen High School Campus Green Corps Gardens
      • Buffalo Seniors Inspirational Garden
      • Hoxie Prairie Garden, 10549 S. Hoxie Avenue
      • Laquan McDonald and Trayvon Martin Community Gardens
      • Marian R. Byrnes Nature Area, Van Vlissingen Prairie, East 103rd Street
      • South Chicago Senior Citizens Garden, 3130 E. 92nd Street
      • Victory Garden, 8915 S. Exchange Avenue
      • 88th and Exchange Block Club Garden, 8805 S. Exchange Avenue
    • Green Open Spaces and Parks >
      • Big Marsh Mountain Bike Park, 116th Street & Stony Island Avenue
      • Chicago VeloDrome Campus, 87th Street and Buffalo Avenue
      • Clara D. Schafer Park, 89th - 90th S. Mackinaw Avenue
      • Dead Stick Pond, 122nd Street and Stony Island Avenue
      • Eggers Grove Forest Preserve, 112th Street and Avenue E
      • Hegewisch Marsh, 130th Street and Torrence Avenue
      • Heron Pond, South 122nd Street
      • Indian Creek
      • Indian Ridge Marsh, 122nd Street, between Stony Island and Torrence Avenues
      • John Beniac “Beans” Greenway, 3925 E. 104th Street
      • Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parking Lot Bioswale, 2338 East 99th Street
      • Powderhorn Lake and Prairie, 138th Street and Brainerd Avenue:
      • South Chicago People’s Park, 9100 S. Buffalo Avenue
      • Steelworkers Memorial Park, East 87th Street and Lake Michigan
      • Wolf Lake’s William W. Powers Conservation Area & Wolf Lake’s Hammond, Indiana, Memorial Park
  • PUBLIC ART TOUR
    • SOUTH CHICAGO PEOPLE'S PARK, 91st Street and Buffalo Avenue
    • ARCHITECTURE >
      • James H. Bowen High School
      • Henry Bessemer Park Field House
      • BURLEY APARTMENTS -- COMMUNITY ROOM
      • Immaculate Conception Church 88th and Commercial Avenue
      • Macias Produce, 8933 S. Commercial Avenue
      • MB National Bank
      • Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 3200 E. 91st Street
      • St. Michael the Archangel Church
      • SkyArt
    • "Drive-By" Art >
      • Drive-By Art, 83rd Street and South Shore Drive
      • Germano-Millgate Apartment Complex, 87th and Burley
      • 1st Choice Market
      • 79th Street & Exchange Avenue "Drive-By Art" Wall
    • Murals >
      • Block-long Mural, 87th Street & Baltimore
      • BLUES BROTHERS MURAL AT CALUMET FISHERIES, 95TH STREET & THE CALUMET RIVER
      • Community Heroes Mural at 91st Street & Commercial Avenue
      • "FAMILIA" MURAL AT METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES, 3062 E. 91st Street
      • From "Jersey Barriers" to "Infocades" -- Barricades as a Muralist's Canvases
      • Mural, "the Crucible," at US Bank, 92nd Street & Commercial Avenue, South Chicago
      • Eduardo Luna with X-Men -- Murals at Brandon Avenue, near 92nd Street
      • 100th Street "East Side Pride" Mural
      • "South Chicago Together As One" Mural, 90th Street & Commercial Avenue
      • Southeast Corner of 87th Street & Houston Avenue
      • Vietnam War Veterans Memorial and Mural, 91st Street & Brandon Ave.
    • Sculpture >
      • Columbus Statue and Drake Fountain, 92nd Street and Exchange Avenue
      • Ironworkers Sculpture and Veterans Memorial, 100th Street, Ewing Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard
      • South Chicago Art Center Sculpted Planters 3217 E. 91st Street
      • Steel Garden, by Richard Hunt, 79th Street and US-41
      • Steelworkers Memorial Statue, 87th Street and Lake Michigan