I was chosen by Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce for a yearly commission to paint 8 pieces under the Brown line stop on Southport. I thought seeing a series of superheroes crying could be a powerful visual for a grouping of large public canvases all lined up together.
On the back of the piece has one continuous scene of rain.
The storm has light peaking through the middle and it receding into darkness on the edges. For me this is a metaphor that works to mirror the tears coming from the eyes of the superheroes (like the sky is crying with them), while also being a representation of the storm: a passing darkness. As we know all of the superheroes stories, we know that they always find a way to triumph and get themselves out of their patch of darkness.
I was asked by many people when I was painting why the superheroes were crying. I told them that the representation of a superhero in most our minds is one of strength and ability. Seeing them crying catches us a bit off guard. At the moment these characters are vulnerable and revealing a softness. I feel it’s important we’re able to keep these two seemingly opposing ideas in our head at the same time: strength and vulnerability. And seeing idealized versions of ourselves going through pain can become a symbol of all of our suffering. It’s something that unites us. That’s the type of message I’d like to bring to the public.
Thank you to the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce for allowing me to create these pieces.