“Love Letter” to Englewood that is what they call this mural. The Englewood Junction Mural stands before us as a testament to community pride and artistic collaboration. This vibrant artwork breathes life into a once-vacant wall at 57th Street and Racine Avenue.
The Englewood Arts Collective spearheaded this project. Joe “Cujodah” Nelson, the collective’s co-founder, worked with other Chicago-based artists. Max Sansing, Oscar Joyo, DredSke, Jamiah Calvin, and Everett Reynolds all contributed their unique talents. Rahmaan Statik may add to the design later.
Nelson says the mural has “futuristic designs.” Each artist’s individual style shines through. The artists created a piece with “respect and love at its core.” They bounced ideas off each other. Nelson believes this mural has unique energy. It is unlike anything else on the South Side right now.
The City Council approved $9 million in tax-increment financing for Moran Park. The Park District plans to build a field house with a gymnasium. The updated field house and water spray were announced in 2022. The Englewood Arts Collective hosted spray paint demos and mini mural-coloring at Friday’s celebration in the park.
The Englewood Public Safety Taskforce received nearly $1 million in 2018. Their project, T.I.M.E. 21:36, blends the area’s ZIP codes, 60621 and 60636. The funding supports community projects, crime evaluation tools, and overtime pay for local officers. In 2021, Nelson designed a mural under a viaduct at 58th and Racine.
The Love Letter mural adds vibrancy to vacant spaces in Englewood. Nelson says art is his gift. This is his way to share it and rebuild the neighborhood he loves.
The city primed more space than expected for the Love Letter mural. Nelson partnered with Statik to do what they could. The 3,500-square-foot wall at 57th and Racine was left blank until Nelson could gather resources.
The Chicago Community Trust awarded Nelson and the Englewood Arts Collective a $3,500 Safe and Peaceful Community grant. Teamwork Englewood also provided financial support. $2,800 of the grant went to renting lifts. The rest was split among the artists for paint. Sansing, Joyo, DredSke, Calvin, and Reynolds painted without receiving money for their work. Nelson paid for all other expenses.
Nelson says he doesn’t care about the money. It will pay him back when people enjoy the artwork. It is a labor of love. It took a little over a week to create the final design. Each artist’s style shines through in the Love Letter mural.
Nelson’s piece continues the samurai-inspired theme. The figures in his murals wear armor but don’t draw their weapons. They symbolize how you can be tough and beautiful without fighting. You can have those weapons but not use them. The powerful women in Nelson’s murals are an ode to his mother and aunts.
Nelson says the collaboration of different artists and styles is Chicago. People can get a variety of art. This gives a wider range of experience. The Englewood Junction Mural represents the spirit and resilience of Englewood. It shows the power of art to transform communities.