SISTER CITIES - HELLO KIRSTEN

TITLE: Listen To Learn

ARTIST: Hello Kirsten

LOCATION: 72 E. 11th Street

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Hello Kirsten aka Kirsten McCrea's detailed artworks showcase layered histories, using ornamentation and patterning to reveal alternate narratives that celebrate diversity in all its forms. Her mural Listen to Learn was created as a reminder that listening is a key element of understanding, educating, and harmony. Reflecting on how she came up with the idea for this project Kirsten said: “We are living in a particularly fearful and divisive time. This work highlights a path forward through patterns, motifs and designs that honor diverse points of view, pointing a way towards dialogue that is open-minded and participatory. The mural itself is representative of multicultural patterns that hint at Chicago’s particular demographic mix. In the middle, a telephone receiver is held up and out of the ear piece a bright beam of color emerges; highlighting the fact that listening illuminates life, bringing out more nuanced color, texture, and greater general awareness."

PHOTO CREDIT: Sandra Steinbrecher