SUMMIT'S CREATIVE PLACEMAKING INITIATIVE SET FOR UNVEILING AUGUST 13TH
- 17 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For the past six months, the Village of Summit has demonstrated what can happen when artists, residents, and community organizations come together with a shared vision. Through the Creative Placemaking Initiative, funded by Cook County Arts, local partners have worked to reimagine public spaces while placing community voices at the center of the creative process.
Pigment International proudly led the public art component of the initiative under the direction of co-founder Phyliss North, guiding the development of a community-inspired mural and the complete artistic refurbishment of the Wharton Elementary School basketball court. Rather than imposing a design on the neighborhood, residents helped shape the project's artistic direction through visioning sessions that invited them to paint, create mosaics, and share ideas about the spaces they use every day. Front and center are memories of the people who shaped the community – Mamie and Emmett Till, the Old Timers and multiple generations of athletics all now immortalized within this project just in time for Till’s 85th Birthday celebration.
The artist team included Brenda Dickerson (The Beast), Barrett Keithley, Kahari Blackburn, Joseph Andrews, Marlon Tobias, and Phyliss North, with Dorian Sylvain serving as project consultant. Together they transformed community input into artwork that reflects Summit's history, creativity, and aspirations.
Beyond the visual arts, the initiative embraced environmental stewardship. Sandra Reno led the landscape and gardening efforts, while Ignite Glass Studios contributed creative elements that enhanced the project's artistic identity.
The Creative Placemaking Initiative was made possible through the leadership of The Lights On Collective and the support of SGA Youth & Family Services, in partnership with the Summit Community Network, Village of Summit, Summit Public Library, the Nubian Nine, Argo Park, Summit Park District, Pigment International, Ignite Glass Studios, and many dedicated residents and volunteers.
The community is invited to celebrate the completion of this remarkable collaboration on Thursday, August 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The celebration begins at the Summit Public Library, followed by ribbon-cutting ceremonies at each project site and trolley tours showcasing the newly transformed spaces.
Everyone is encouraged to attend and celebrate the power of art, partnership, and community.