Avondale Murals 'Coming Soon' — Take A Look View Full Caption

AVONDALE — Belmont and Kedzie is a bird-poop-covered no man's land.

Sandwiched between two wards and three police beats, no one wants to take responsibility the intersection near the Kennedy Expy. and Metra underpasses, littered with pigeon droppings and painfully unwelcoming.

Now neighbors will try their hand.

The Avondale Neighborhood Association has stepped up with plans for four new murals at the corner from foreign and American-born artists. The group expects to spend about $8,000, but will try to cover some of the cost with a grant from Ald. Deb Mell (33rd).

The murals are a way for the diverse neighborhood to celebrate the cultures of its widespread Hispanic and Polish communities, association president Emily Taylor said. It could also be the first step in bridging the gap caused by the uninviting bridges, she said.

"We really want to make this intersection lively — get pedestrians walking there," Taylor said. "The best way to create positive change is if there are people there keeping an eye on it."

The bridges bisect Avondale, creating somewhat of a blockade between the east and west halves that stretch from the Milwaukee District North Metra line to the Chicago River.

Pigeon poop and trash litters the underpass at Kedzie and Belmont on Thursday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

One of the underpasses is restricted for public and private use and eligible for daily off-the-street cleaning, according to posted signs. Still, a long line of tents and personal items line the back half of the underpass. Out of sight from street view, the personal effects of homeless residents lay under a deteriorating mural.

"There are traffic problems, drug use, pigeon problems. If you start to look into any of them, they're all heavy, intertwined issues," Taylor said. "We're trying to look into what we can do in little bits and pieces."

Spikes meant to keep pigeons away are falling down, and trash lines the sidewalks. A woman who enjoys feeding the birds leaves "piles of stale bread," while others leave food for people living under the bridge who "don't want it or throw it away," Taylor said.

And that's not even mentioning the potholes.

So with the murals attracting more eyes on the street, Taylor said she hopes they'll take the first step toward convincing the city to spend more on bettering the intersection.

The Avondale Neighborhood Association has selected three artists to paint the four murals, and each has presented preliminary plans for their works of art.

The largest stretch along the intersection will come from Chema Skandal, a Mexican-born artist whose work can be found from Pilsen to Lakeview's Nettelhorst School.

Mexican-born artist Chema Skandal will paint a mural featuring people and sights of Avondale at Belmont and Kedzie avenues. [Avondale Neighborhood Association]

Skandal is looking to paint a long piece with Avondale's name written between depictions of people and other notables of the neighborhood.

With his work slated to begin in the spring, Skandal is looking for neighbors to share their ideas on people and things that best represent Avondale.

The neighborhood group is accepting idea submissions through an online survey.

"If your grandpa owned a business in Avondale or you have a kooky neighbor with a quirky rooster, then fill out the form," Taylor said.

One of three artists painting murals in Avondale, Tony Passero, will paint the west wall and east wall (pictured) of the underpass along Kedzie Avenue near Belmont Avenue. [Provided/Avondale Neighborhood Association]

Another artist whose work is likely familiar to Chicagoans is Tony Passero, who painted the colorful owl "Whoot Mural" nearby and "Jumbo Jet" at Pulaski and Irving Park roads.

Passero will tackle the two walls on Kedzie, with plans for a geometric designs with a roughly spray-painted background and elegant horned beasts at the front. Passero's intricate patterns and bold designs are found at the Chicago Fire's Toyota Park in suburban Bridgeview and elsewhere.

Jerry Rogowski plans to paint a mural at the intersection of Belmont and Kedzie avenues. [Avondale Neighborhood Association]

Polish-born Jerry Rogowski has crafted a pale yellow mural featuring a band of string and percussion players for the wall along Belmont. While most of Rogowski's mural work involves interior design, his bold monochromatic work and minimalist patterns are clear factors in the plans for the Belmont mural.

Those murals could get underway in the fall with successful fundraising, Taylor said.

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