Hubbard Street Murals

This is part of a project to photograph some of what was the Hubbard Street mural project initiated in the 1970’s by Ricardo Alonzo, an Art Institute of Chicago graduate.

Over an eight-year period, Alonzo and volunteers from the West Town Community Art Center painted murals along a mile-long stretch of Hubbard Street, from Des Plaines to Ogden, until their funding ran out in 1979.

I first noticed the murals out my Metra train window while I was looking to produce a project influenced by Wabi-sabi, and how it translates to an urban environment outside of Japan.

They provided an ideal way to explore how time and decay have affected these artworks. The originals would have been vibrant and colourful, time, paint overs, weather and construction have taken their toll on the work.

Most people will not see the murals because they are in an obscure place, where most people wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to view them.

I want to raise awareness of this still-vibrant, if fading, original community project, and to introduce some of my work locally.

After producing some shots in monochrome, I decided to reshoot the set in color to have a better record of the original work.

walrus

Original notes

A mural depicting a walrus is painted on a wal

Description for the visually challenged

A mural depicting a walrus is painted on a wall. The walrus is primarily blue with white accents and is positioned against a dark background. Green leaves from a nearby plant partially obscure the top of the mural.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community walrus art nature

woodpecker

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a woodpecker on a wall. The woodpecker has a red head, black and white body, and is depicted in profile. There is a vertical crack running through the mural, and the background is dark with some blue elements.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community woodpecker art color wall crack background black white blue

leaping frog

Description for the visually challenged

A colorful mural of a frog is painted on a dark wall. The frog features green, yellow, and purple colors, with visible details like its limbs and webbed feet. The wall shows signs of wear and decay, with cracks and dirt present around the mural.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community frog art colorful urban wall decay vibrant nature illustration

reptile

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a mural of a large, stylized reptile’s face, featuring blue and green tones. The reptile has sharp teeth and a textured skin pattern. The mural is partially obscured by a vertical crack in the wall, with some dirt and grime visible around the edges.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community reptile art urban color design publicart wall creativity expression

bird of prey

Description for the visually challenged

A mural of a bird, possibly a falcon, is depicted on a textured wall. The bird has a light blue head, a yellow beak, and a body with intricate patterns in shades of beige and blue. The background is dark with visible wear and peeling paint.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community falcon art

butterfly

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a butterfly with predominantly black wings adorned with yellow spots and blue outlines. The background is a mix of blue and textured surfaces, with hints of pink and green elements nearby. The mural appears to be weathered and partially obscured by dirt.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community butterfly art color nature urban

busy bee

Description for the visually challenged

A colorful mural depicting a stylized insect, possibly a bee, is partially obscured by green foliage. The insect features blue, yellow, and black colors, with a textured background of pink and gray. The foreground includes various green leaves and plants.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community insect colorful foliage art nature greenery creativity urban design

elephant

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a mural of an elephant’s head on a textured, dark background. The elephant is depicted in shades of gray with white tusks and hints of color on its body. The surface is worn and shows signs of aging and dirt.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community elephant art gray dark background wear aging signs

rhinoceros

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a rhinoceros, predominantly in shades of gray and white, set against a dark background. The mural shows the rhinoceros’s head and part of its body, with visible texture and wear on the surface. In the foreground, there are green leaves partially obscuring the bottom right corner.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community rhino art urban nature

a couple of ducks

Description for the visually challenged

A mural depicting two ducks is visible on a weathered wall. One duck is shown in profile with a green head and a light-colored body, while the other duck appears to be resting with a grayish body. The background features muted colors and textures, with visible cracks in the surface.

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places usa illinois chicago hubbardstreet photography photo genre mural street streetart texture mood community ducks urban