Village Trustee Joseph Fitzgerald has commissioned a unique art initiative for Riverside, Illinois, titled “About Town.” Created by Chicago-based visual artist David Heo, this large painting features a man and a woman seated on separate benches in a vibrant green park, accompanied by one of Riverside’s iconic gas lamps. The male figure is engrossed in a copy of the village’s general plan, originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1869, while the woman observes the surrounding scenery.
Fitzgerald aims to rotate the painting among various local businesses and organizations, fostering conversations about Riverside’s heritage and its connection to Olmsted’s broader body of work. He remarked, “The whole theme of it is connecting Central Park’s lineage, which Olmsted made, with Riverside’s identity. It’s a conversation-starter.”
Engaging the Community through Art
As of February 27, the painting is temporarily displayed at Riverside Foods and will remain there for two to three weeks. The next location has yet to be determined, but Fitzgerald envisions expanding the initiative beyond Riverside if it gains traction. “Riverside is the first planned community in the U.S. We have the opportunity to have a rare, direct connection with Olmsted and some of the other areas that he’s done, not only in New York but across the country,” he explained.
The initiative also aligns with Fitzgerald’s vision to designate Quincy Street as an arts district within Riverside. He noted, “We have the Arts Center there, we have Higgins Glass, we have [Colorsmith] Stained Glass, we have the craft distillery. We’ve already got to the bones to do that. Why can’t we start edging our way towards that?”
Fitzgerald’s inspiration for the project stemmed from a trip to Portland, Oregon, where he reflected on how others recognized Riverside as “Olmsted’s Riverside.” He believes this art project will enhance local pride and recognition of Riverside’s historical significance, stating, “I still think that we’re a little underrecognized as to the importance of what we’ve done and how pretty it is here.”
A Broader Vision for Riverside
The traveling painting initiative not only seeks to celebrate Riverside’s artistic contributions but also aims to encourage local business activation. Fitzgerald expressed enthusiasm for the increasing vibrancy of businesses along Burlington Street and hopes to extend that energy into the Quincy Street area. “It’s wonderful to see the activation of businesses and space over on Burlington, but it’d be nice to be able to bridge that over into this area as well,” he said.
Through “About Town,” Fitzgerald emphasizes the importance of community connection via art. By rotating the painting throughout local venues, he hopes to engage residents and visitors alike in meaningful discussions about the village’s unique heritage and its ties to the legacy of Olmsted. This initiative not only showcases local talent but also invites the community to explore and share Riverside’s story in a creative way.
