Local Artist's Mural Brings History, Education, and Easter Eggs to Woodlawn Library
The Bessie Coleman Branch Library in Woodlawn has gained a vibrant new feature – a 3D printed mural designed by Kari Blak. For the artist, this project was more than just a commission; it was an opportunity to give back to his community as a neighbor and creator.
Blak's design was initially presented in three separate proposals, which were then merged into one cohesive piece using Photoshop. The resulting image features Easter eggs for kids to discover – nods to history, education, and Woodlawn culture. Among the hidden gems are Miel, a bee-inspired character used by Blak's company Petalhead, as well as Bessie Coleman, the library's namesake, in her iconic flight gear.
The mural also features various symbols representing climate change, environmentalism, aviation, immigration, and literature. A space shuttle blasting off represents imagination, while a kid growing a tree from a book signifies knowledge and growth. The butterfly symbolizes immigration, and native birds represent flight and freedom. Meanwhile, the scuba diver represents the importance of exploring books and stories.
Blak's process was labor-intensive but rewarding. He hand-drew the initial proposals, then spent several weeks assembling and painting individual squares using nonwoven material printed with gray lines in Photoshop. After assembly at his apartment, they were transported to the library and installed on the wall over a single day last summer.
For Blak, this project represents just one of many creative endeavors he's undertaken recently. He has also worked on commissioned murals for Stroger Hospital, Providence Hospital, and Chance the Rapper's team, held his first solo art show, and even started producing collectible toys and installation sculptures.
Blak concludes that it was a "really busy year," but looks forward to taking a break during the holidays. His artwork has brought joy and enrichment to his community – a testament to his dedication to creating meaningful spaces through art.
The Bessie Coleman Branch Library in Woodlawn has gained a vibrant new feature – a 3D printed mural designed by Kari Blak. For the artist, this project was more than just a commission; it was an opportunity to give back to his community as a neighbor and creator.
Blak's design was initially presented in three separate proposals, which were then merged into one cohesive piece using Photoshop. The resulting image features Easter eggs for kids to discover – nods to history, education, and Woodlawn culture. Among the hidden gems are Miel, a bee-inspired character used by Blak's company Petalhead, as well as Bessie Coleman, the library's namesake, in her iconic flight gear.
The mural also features various symbols representing climate change, environmentalism, aviation, immigration, and literature. A space shuttle blasting off represents imagination, while a kid growing a tree from a book signifies knowledge and growth. The butterfly symbolizes immigration, and native birds represent flight and freedom. Meanwhile, the scuba diver represents the importance of exploring books and stories.
Blak's process was labor-intensive but rewarding. He hand-drew the initial proposals, then spent several weeks assembling and painting individual squares using nonwoven material printed with gray lines in Photoshop. After assembly at his apartment, they were transported to the library and installed on the wall over a single day last summer.
For Blak, this project represents just one of many creative endeavors he's undertaken recently. He has also worked on commissioned murals for Stroger Hospital, Providence Hospital, and Chance the Rapper's team, held his first solo art show, and even started producing collectible toys and installation sculptures.
Blak concludes that it was a "really busy year," but looks forward to taking a break during the holidays. His artwork has brought joy and enrichment to his community – a testament to his dedication to creating meaningful spaces through art.
, but come on forum devs, can we please get some decent image upload tools? The ones they used for the Easter eggs are literally just screenshots of Photoshop and it looks like low-res garbage 
. And what's with having to use three separate proposals before merging them into one? That sounds like a real pain in the neck 
. But seriously, the mural is amazing and Blak's dedication to his community is really inspiring... maybe if we had better tools around here, more artists could showcase their work as beautifully 
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and it got me thinking, have you ever seen those things create something from thin air? like magic or something... 
anyway, back to the library mural... I love how Kari Blak incorporated so many symbols and themes into one piece. It's not just a pretty picture, but also an education tool 
. speaking of which, have you tried that new cafe downtown that has an awesome 3D printed cake menu? 
I need to get there ASAP!
! Kari Blak did an amazing job with all these hidden gems 
, like Miel the bee and Bessie Coleman in flight gear. It's so cool how he wove together history, education, and Easter eggs for kids to find 
. And can you believe all the symbolism? 
A butterfly representing immigration? A space shuttle for imagination? It's mind-blowing! 
I love that Blak gave back to his community like this – it just shows how art can make a real difference in our neighborhoods 
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! The artist, Kari Blak, is literally printing out a history lesson in Easter eggs 
And the symbols representing climate change, environmentalism, and literature are so on point! 
. Have you guys ever seen a mural that inspired you to learn something new? 
) to find 'em. The way Blak wove in symbols from history, education, and culture... it's like a treasure hunt, man! And the imagery is fire 
- I love how the butterfly represents immigration, you know? It's so important we keep that conversation going. Anyway, kudos to Blak for putting his heart into this project 
. What's next for him? Hopefully some more art shows and maybe even a few collabs 
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This mural is like a big statement about the importance of learning and community. Plus, it's in a library, which is already pretty cool! 
I'm loving this mural, but why did they have to hide all the cool stuff behind Photoshop? Can't they just show us what's inside that wall? It's like they're saying "look at me, I'm creative" instead of actually being creative 
. And what's up with the Easter eggs, are we supposed to be some kinda scavenger hunt or something? Give people a break, let them enjoy the mural as art, not as a puzzle to solve 
the way they merged all the designs into one cohesive piece using photoshop is insane 
and the butterfly for immigration 
can't wait to go visit the library and spot all the hidden gems 
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The Easter eggs are so sick! But seriously, what's up with Blak incorporating all these symbols into the design? It's like he's trying to cram in too many messages at once 
. And don't even get me started on the scuba diver – books and stories are cool, but can we take a break from water puns for one sec? 
On a more serious note, I'm all about supporting local artists, so props to Blak for giving back to his community in such a meaningful way 
. Can't wait to see what he comes up with next! 
! I mean, who doesn't love finding hidden Easter eggs? 
also the climate change symbols and native birds representin flight & freedom is super dope 
. Can we get more murals like this in libraries everywhere?