A Great Ending to Summer at Touhy Beach

What can be better than art work and the beach in the same place on a beautiful summer day? For the past 25 years, the Rogers Park Community in Chicago has gotten together to create art at the beach and raise funds for community projects. Individuals, small groups, and organizations can buy sections of a long, cement bench to paint whatever their spirits move them to paint. Each spring the bench is white washed so that people can paint it again.

At the beginning of the wall

We’ve been going to view this great community art project every summer for the past few years but had somehow missed it this year until a week ago. I was glad to see that all our rains this summer hadn’t washed the painting away. We were able to see all the artwork in full color.

the colorful painted bench.

I’m sharing some of my favorites with you so that you can get an idea of the spirit of it. As they say, one picture is worth 1000 words.

I love this picture. I've always felt that the beach is our reward here for enduring the never ending Chicago winters. This picture expresses that spirit on the beach trying to enjoy our rare moments of sun and warmth.

This one was very decorative and I thought beautiful.

Many of the sections advocate for causes. I believe in all of the causes advocated in this section of the bench.

I love the spirit of this one.

And now sadly, summer has come to an end. I'm looking forward to next summer when the neighborhood artists will have the opportunity to express themselves in all the many ways that they choose.