Demolition contractor John Gipson stands in front of the “graffiti house,” which his wrecking team will tear down in the next few weeks. The house has been covered with artwork on all sides – including the roof – for more than 10 years. Gipson is waiting for city permission to start razing the house and six others at Emerson Street and Jackson Avenue. The city bought the property for nearly $1.7 million last year. Council Member Bobby Burns, whose Fifth Ward encompasses the property, appreciates street art. “When I was young, I was part of a graffiti crew,” Burns said. Legitimate street artists “uplift communities,” he said. Still, he said, “I don’t think the artists who worked on this house were the most talented.” Regarding the property, he plans “to collaborate with my neighbors to develop a plan for the site that will ensure affordable living for Evanston residents.”
Richard Cahan
Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at... More by Richard Cahan
I was told that the son of the houses owner was a street artist and the father turned its exterior over to the son and friends to paint
As an artist I was moved to capture “the graffiti house “ as an icon of a past Evanston – always loved the sense of wonder – painting here – https://www.markclevelandart.com/fine-art
1.7 million dollars for that house?