Columbia College's new street art festival, Wabash Arts Corridor Big Walls, is set to drastically change the look and feel of the South Loop. The initiative takes place May 1–13, when 18 artists from around the world and in Chicago will transform the Wabash Arts Corridor with huge murals. Once completed, the area will have one of the densest concentrations of public art in the U.S., according to a press release.
In addition to lots of great artwork going up around town, a public conference will take place from 6–10pm on Thursday, May 5. Chicago's own Ruben Aguirre and Collin van der Sluijs from the Netherlands will be on-hand to talk about the project during the event. The festival culminates with Columbia College's annual Manifest Urban Arts Festival from noon–9pm on Friday, May 13.
Whether or not you attend the festival, you won't miss out completely—these murals are here to stay. And if the past work of the artists is any indication, the South Loop is about to get a lot more vibrant.