Murals in Pilsen

Public art is an integral part of the character of Pilsen. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum is an important force in the cultural and artistic life of the community. There are numerous murals bounded by 16th Street to the north to the Chicago River to the east and south and Western Avenue to the west. It is one of the largest Mexicain American communities in the country. In the 19th century, the area was populated by immigrants from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The name Pilsen is derived from Pizen, a city in Bohemia. The first recorded Mexican immigrants began arriving in the 1950's. About 90% of Pilsen's 44,000 residents are hispanic and most of those are Mexican. The immense, vibrant murals of the neighborhood suggest an immediate connection to the Mexican muralist tradition.

In Mexico, the muralist movement was spurred on by the Revolution of 1910. The Revolution had a tremendous influence on the artists of this time; provoking significant changes in the arts. The leaders of the revolution used murals tocommunicate with the people, the majority of whom were illiterate. The topics of art were social and revolutionary: worker conditions; poverty, and agricultural reform. The murals addressed the general