Making Space

The Elgin Social Justice Collective came together and worked to identify a project. What space can we make to allow for further artistic expression?

The project consists of four parts: a mural, a documentary, a Juneteenth partnership, and a scholarship. How can we create a lasting reflection of the activities of the summer of 2020? What space can we make to allow for peaceful and impactful gatherings of community members to engage? How do we elevate equity in our community? These questions arose in response to the historic summer of 2020 and t

he response that Elgin’s community had to the killing of George Floyd. Elgin’s residents came out and peacefully protested along with many others across the nation. Downtown businesses were largely boarded up in an abundance of caution based on the looting happening in other communities; happily, no looting or damage occurred in Elgin. Local artists and activists activated to express their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement artistically on the boards adorning the businesses. An ad-hoc group of community individuals (now known as the Elgin Social Justice Collective) came together and worked to identify a project that would address those questions. Using the board-ups as inspiration, a professional mural artist will be commissioned to design, develop, and install a mural permanently in the downtown working in collaboration with our community. The community will be encouraged to participate in the actual installation of the mural, during which opportunities to engage with other community members and begin building relationships will be plentiful. The entire process of this new mural will be documented, including interviews with the original board-up artists and community members participating in the project. The documentary, as well as ways to donate to the scholarship will be noted on the mural itself. The mural will be unveiled during the annual Juneteenth Celebration. Also, a part of the Juneteenth celebration will be an installation of ‘Art Cubes’ which will serve as a blank canvas for community members to use art to speak to their experiences with the Black Lives Matter movement and its impact on their lives. These ‘Art Cubes’ provide an artistic and spontaneous engagement opportunity annually. Images of some of the artwork will be used to start a t-shirt campaign to raise funds for two purposes: a second scholarship for the existing Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship program, which is awarded annually to Elgin students who have demonstrated an active interest and meaningful involvement in the areas of human rights, civil rights, social justice and/or world peace. The second purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the permanent mural to be installed. Making Space is sponsored by the Elgin Social Justice Collective, Elgin History Museum, Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, Healing Illinois, The Chicago Community Trust, Elgin Human Relations Commission, Illinois Humanities, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin Area Chamber, Funky Rooster Tattoo and Art Gallery, and Side Street Studio Arts.

Side Street Studio Arts | NFP Arts Org. | Elgin, IL

05/04/2022

Thank you to Side Street Studio Arts for their support of Making Space! Learn more about Side Street Studio Arts and their programming here:

Side Street Studio Arts | NFP Arts Org. | Elgin, IL Side Street Studio Arts was founded in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an inclusive space, run by artists. Side Street’s mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration.

11/11/2021

Thank you to the Elgin Area Historical Society for their support of this project! Learn more about the Elgin History Museum and their amazing programming here.

Elgin History Museum The Museum is NOW OPEN to visitors from 11am – 4pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Upcoming Events We have events all through the year. Check out our calendar to see what is coming up next! Donate Your donation to the Elgin History Museum helps tell Elgin stories, promotes saving Elgin h...

Home - Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, IL

10/19/2021

Huge thank you to the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce for the sponsorship of this project! Learn more about the Chamber by visiting:

Home - Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, IL Thank you for visiting us. The Elgin Area Chamber is one of the largest accredited business organizations in Illinois. Use our Search below to connect with GREAT businesses.

10/15/2021

Huge thank you to the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin IL for being a partner with us in Making Space. Learn more about the DNA at their website: https://www.downtownelgin.com

07/23/2021

Interviews finished for ‘Making Spaces,’ film taking closer look at last summer’s protests in Elgin Filming has wrapped up on “Making Spaces,” the Elgin-based documentary chronicling the post-George Floyd events that took place in the city last summer.

06/25/2021

We tried to wait out the weather, but it just isn’t cooperating. We are canceling today’s Community Paint and hope to see you all on Sunday from 1-3!

‎Connected.: Connected. 023- The Elgin Social Justice Collective on Apple Podcasts

06/16/2021

We had the pleasure of being interviewed by Side Street Studio Arts as part of their Connected podcast. Four members of Elgin's newly emerging Social Justice Collective, Councilman Corey Dixon, Amanda Harris, Dr. Rise' Jones, and Paige Roeber join SSSA Founder and Executive Director Erin Rehberg to discuss the obstacles and inspirations that are emerging from their Making Space project, which was developed in response to Elgin's Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1547563482?i=1000525697116

‎Connected.: Connected. 023- The Elgin Social Justice Collective on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Connected., Ep Connected. 023- The Elgin Social Justice Collective - Jun 15, 2021

06/10/2021

Huge 'Thank You' to those that attended the mural site re-dedication this past Saturday. If you were unable to make it out but want to share your thoughts on the mural, please visit us at the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin IL's Farmers Market this Friday and meet muralist Pablo Serrano.

Photo credit: Doug Hanson

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Elgin, IL

Making Space

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