Want to paint a mural? East Dundee's community effort open to all ages and skill levels

Chicago Tribune

18-07-2025

Volunteers are being sought by the East Dundee Arts Council to help paint a portion of a huge downtown mural to be displayed in front of a village-owned building planned for future redevelopment.
As many people as want to participate will join forces July 26 in filling in a design created by Elgin artist Kathryn Eli that will take up the middle 48 feet of the expansive artwork at 110 Railroad St.
The 140-foot-long mural will be painted in panels set up along the wooden fence that lines a former lumberyard property, which the village purchased for $800,000 in December 2023 and plans to sell for a commercial or mixed-use development that complements the historic downtown district.
Village officials have one proviso for the future development: it must include space for the future home of the Williams Street Repertory/Raue Center of Crystal Lake.
For that reason, the mural's main theme is 'The Best Is Yet to Come,' which is currently painted in white on the wooden fence slats. The six artists chosen to do the work have been asked to focus on arts and entertainment and to consider both East Dundee's past and future.
'It will show (the) mixing (of) tradition and innovation and harmonizing them,' said Eli, who noted her section will focus on musicians.
'For artists, this is an appealing, expansive space, and a mural is a way to beautify it,' she said. 'It's also next to the Fox River Trail, giving people walking or biking downtown a chance to experience the artwork up close and from a distance.'
In October 2024, Eli painted the mural on the wall of East Dundee Village Hall adjacent to the entrance of the village police department. It features local flora and fauna in a style inspired by stained glass and by details of the building's architecture.
The village's first council-commissioned mural was done in July 2023 by Maddie Deiters, now 18, from downstate Marion, who did a Fox River-inspired work on the side of Great Spirit Hardwoods at downtown Jackson and North River streets.
Eli said she came up with the idea of painting a community mural on the fence in March and worked with the council to bring it to fruition.
When volunteers join her on July 26, Eli will have laid out her design so that it is ready to filled in with color. Those working with her will paint in 30- to 50-minute shifts.
The community event also will include family friendly games and chalk art for children, according to East Dundee management analyst Caleb Haydock, who said the mural and event will cost about $18,000.
'We're excited by the opportunity to offer the community this unique project,' he said. 'It should be a fun day.'
Volunteers can participate regardless of age or skill level, organizers said. They're asked to meet July 26 in the Meier Street parking lot, between Railroad and Hill streets. The work will be done between noon to 4 p.m., with families and children given the earlier time slots.
The entire piece is being designed so that it can be removed from its location later and put back together for display elsewhere, either as one long, horizontal piece or in sections stacked atop each other, Eli said.
That will happen after a developer is chosen to renovate the lumber yard property and work gets under way. One proposal for the site has been received, Haydock said, and will go before the village board for review sometime in the next few months.
As for anyone who would like to volunteer to paint, 'we would love it if people RSVP'd so we can get a better idea of how many people will attend,' he said.
For more information and to sign up to paint, go to eventbrite.com/e/1491836696719?aff=oddtdtcreator.