Local artists united in Pilsen for weeklong mural project [Video]

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Dozens of established, Chicago-based muralists and graffiti artists will be taking over a viaduct in Pilsen for a weeklong mural project starting Tuesday, and organizers said local youth and emerging artists have been invited to assist.

The Pilsen-based Mural Movement partnered with the nonprofit Connecting4Communities to bring around 50 artists to the viaduct, located at 16th Street and Racine Avenue, for a project dedicated to transforming the narrative surrounding what organizers described as Chicago’s “dark, damp, dirty and intimidating viaducts.”

“It’s always been kind of scary and not so welcoming,” said Mural Movement Founder Delilah Martinez.

Martinez told WBBM that the aim this week is to beautify the viaduct with vibrant murals and showcase the creativity of muralists and graffiti artists.

“Every project we do, we love to empower the youth,” she said. “We love to empower aspiring artists or anybody that’s interested in the art world, we just love …