Most of Chicago’s public art is unveiled with official ceremonies, but some pieces have more unconventional origins.
Nestled among the rocks near the lakefront in South Chicago is a limestone mermaid, a figure that has been part of the landscape for decades.
How a group of artists secretly carved a limestone masterpiece
The story began when sculptors Roman Villareal, Jose Moreno, Fred Arroyo, and Edfu Kingigna decided to create an unsolicited piece of art for the public. They chose a large block of limestone and, for nine days, secretly worked on carving a mermaid.
During this nine-day process, police attempted to stop their unsanctioned work. Despite the challenges, the artists completed their project, and the mermaid quickly became a part of local lore.
For years, she was a curious and welcome addition to the shorelin. However, this changed in the early 2000s, when the Chicago Park District removed the artwork as part of a project to replace the limestone blocks and placed it in storage.
Saved by the people
In 2010, a campaign led by students from the Gallery 37 arts program successfully advocated for the return of a significant carving to the waterfront.
Today, you can visit this piece of Chicago history at Oakwood Beach in Burnham Park, located just south of the 39th Street Harbor.
