Celebrating Blues music in Bronzeville on June 27, 2021 from 2pm-4pm, at One Stop Foods, 4301 S. Lake Park Ave. Chicago, IL. The Bronzeville Blues Collaborative, which includes Urban Juncture (Build Bronzeville), Chicago Blues Revival, Haven Studio, MOJO Museum, and Chicago Public Art Group, invites you to the Blues mural unveiling that will include a ribbon cutting and a musical performance by Mary Lane and The No Static Blues Band.
The mural, entitled "Blues Travels Fast" is being created by renowned mural artist Damon Lamar Reed with support from the Chicago Public Art Group and sponsorship by Healing Illinois, The Chicago Community Trust, and One-Stop Foods (who owns the mural wall). The mural shows the connection between the blues history of Bronzeville and the music of today by portraying both blues legends and contemporary musical figures. Some of the musicians portrayed, like Muddy Waters, are well known. Others, like Willie "Big Eyes" Smith will be newly appreciated through their inclusion in the mural (Willie was a vocalist, drummer, and harmonica player who played in Muddy's band and lived for many years on the block where the mural will be). The mural was developed with input from the community and from collaborative members, and is supported with a grant by Healing Illinois. The mural was funded with a grant from Healing Illinois, a racial healing initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust.
Chicago Blues Hall of Fame singer Mary Lane, who is one of the figures in the mural, is 85-years young, and still sings the blues in clubs across Chicago. She came to Chicago from Arkansas as part of the Great Migration in 1957. Lane was the subject of the documentary I Can Only be Mary Lane, and can be heard on her recent album “Travelin’ Woman.” Buddy Guy calls her “The Real Deal.”
Also performing as part of the event will be youth musicians from Haven Studios, a Bronzeville-based youth music organization.
We hope to see you there!!!
FREE REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bronzeville-blues-mural-ribbon-cutting-tickets-158764421659