National Suffrage Mural Series Chicago Edition
Introduction
The Chicago Womxn’s Suffrage Tribute Committee, in conjunction with the Wabash Arts Corridor and Columbia College Chicago, commissioned three murals celebrating womxn and the work of local activists in obtaining the right to vote and the modern struggle for equality. The Chicago Womxn's Suffrage Tribute Committee commissioned this work; it is a recognized public artwork by the City of Chicago. The Committee was formed in 2020 to honor the work of Illinois women for earning the right to vote and other rights, and to ensure that the stories of women’s activism are told and not forgotten. The focus is to create public art projects that will reach wide audiences and serve to mark the work of women activists in public spaces and venues.
The suffrage murals are the first of projects in a planned series, followed by historic markers at women’s suffrage sites, sculptural monuments and more statewide public art recognition of female-identifying political trailblazers. The series was scheduled to be completed in September 2021, but a parking lot owner near the mural site obstructed the series by claiming it was "too political." The artists and team persevered and finished the series in its entirety two years later at an alternate site. A multitude of articles were published about the attempted censorship.
The Chicago Womxn’s Suffrage Tribute Committee: Meg Duguid, Michelle Duster, Catherine Mardikes, Kris Nesbitt, Lori Osbourne and Neysa Page-Lieberman was formed in 2020 to honor the work of Illinois women for voting and other rights for women, and to ensure that the stories of women’s activism are told and not forgotten. The focus is to create public art projects that will reach wide audiences and serve to mark the work of women activists in public spaces and venues. They curated, commissioned, produced,
fundraised, advocated for and published articles about this series.
left to right: Michelle Duster, Kris Nesbitt, Lori Osborne, Meg Duguid, Catherine Mardikes. Not pictured: Neysa Page-Lieberman
On The Wings of Change
On the Wings of Change by Diosa (Jasmina Cazacu) located on the 33 E. Ida B Wells building, honors the work of Chicago suffragists in obtaining the right to vote. Through portraiture, this mural ensures that the stories of women’s activism are told and not forgotten. The Suffragists featured in this mural include:
JANE ADDAMS
MYRA BRADWELL
MARY LIVERMORE
CATHARINE WAUGH McCULLOCH
AGNES NESTOR
GRACE WILBUR TROUT
MARY FITZBUTLER WARING
IDA B. WELLS
FANNIE BARRIER WILLIAMS
FRANCES E. WILLARD
Lead Artist Diosa (Jazmina Cazacu) is a Spanish-Romanian illustrator and muralist based in Chicago, IL. She uses surreal, dreamlike imagery to create fantastical scenes that dare her audience to challenge their perceptions, observe with wonder, and appreciate the magic that is always flourishing beneath the surface of the mundane.
Speak Up!
Speak Up! by Dorian Sylvain honors Kamala Harris, the first woman and person of color elected Vice President in 2020--exactly 100 years after women gained the legal right to vote. To commemorate this groundbreaking achievement, the artwork takes the form of a text-based mural featuring the powerful quote, "I'm Speaking," which was said by Vice Presidential candidate Harris during the
2020 vice presidential debate. This mural serves as more than a monument dedicated to Vice President Harris's historic election, it encapsulates the challenges women and people of color face in having their voices heard, as well as the progress made for greater participation in politics and policy-making. Yet, amid these advancements, the mural acknowledges that the journey toward true equality continues. By featuring this empowering phrase in a visually striking manner, Speak Up! invites viewers to celebrate the progress, face the challenges, and remain vigilant in the pursuit of a more just and inclusive society.
Votes for Women by Abie Vasquez / AB Productions was created to honor the laborand organizing by women who were engaged in the long struggle to gain the right to vote. This mural features the yellow rose, which was a symbol used in the suffrage movement, with the iconic phrase “Votes for Women” at the center. It stands as a vivid reminder of the suffragists' unwavering determination and serves as a rallying cry that the work for full gender equity persists.
Votes for Women
Lead Artist Dorian Sylvain is a painter whose color and texture explore ornamentation, pattern, and design as identifiers of cultural and historical foundations. She is a studio painter and muralist, as well as an art educator, curator, and community planner.
Artist assistants: Katon Blackburn, Shiree Davis, Sergio Maciel, Marshawn Rush, and Delia West.
Lead Artist Abie Vazquez is a renowned Chicago street artist and mural production manager. He has managed the production of the vast majority of murals for the Wabash Arts Corridor. He is an advocate for emerging BIPOC artists and champions gender inclusivity and equity in street art and public art in Chicago.
Image Captions: Images of the murals produced with the Wabash Arts Corridor, Downtown Chicago, 2020-2023. Top: Wings of Change, Diosa (Jasmina Cazacu), 2021, 60’ x 240, Speak Up! Dorian Sylvain, 2023, 40’ x 20’. Votes for Women, AB Productions, 2023, 15’ x 10’, All photos by Sandra Steinbrecher.