Courtesy of Taylor Johnson
North Texas-based artist Eric "Drigo" Rodriguez was tapped to design and install the public art gracing the southern facade of Broadway Chapter’s parking garage.
What once was a drab ole parking garage is now an eye-catching art piece in the Near Southside.
The five-story structure that's part of the Near Southside's recently completed residential development, Broadway Chapter, now sports a 5,000-square-foot mural by North Texas artist Eric Rodriguez, also known as "Drigo." Titled "Cosmic Journey," the mural depicts brightly colored tropical imagery spanning five massive concrete panels on the southern facade of Broadway Chapter’s parking garage, visible from Peter Smith Street.
Broadway Chapter is a 242-unit community at 401 Hemphill St., developed by CRG (the real estate development and investment arm of Chicago-based Clayco) and expected to welcome its first residents in July.
In selecting an artist for the project, CRG collaborated with Near Southside art program ArtSouth, which led a community-driven vetting process in February — all during the state's historic ice storm. According to CRG, many artists were completing applications from their cars, warming centers, and other public spaces as power failures extended across the state. CRG supplied a $50,000 budget and worked closely with ArtSouth program administrators, who extended the application deadline and worked to support the artists.
A selection committee of Near Southside arts and cultural leaders — including architects, studio artists, gallerists, public artists, and art education professionals — worked with CRG to narrow down applications to four finalists. They ultimately selected Drigo "due to his immense talent and creativity and the important cultural voice he offers as a Latinx artist representing a historically marginalized community."
“We believe that art can inspire and enhance the daily living experience of our residents,” CRG president Shawn Clark said in a statement. “Our buildings are canvases and an important way for us to give back to the communities we join. We were delighted to work with Drigo and ArtSouth to create a vibrant artwork that resonates with the community.”
Completing the mural took less than three months, with Drigo employing the help of friends and fellow artists Stephanie Cortes, Joshua Romero, Hatziel Flories, and Will Harpham.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to collaborate with CRG and ArtSouth to bring this vision to life,” Drigo said in a statement. “Murals offer a special opportunity to spontaneously impact people’s lives, as anyone can walk by and not only enjoy the work but also find inspiration in it. Near Southside is this melting pot kind of neighborhood, so I’ve used imagery of plants from all over the world and different cultures coming together. There’s always meaning within every element of my work, but I hope people find their own inspiration and interpretation for what it means to them.”
"Cosmic Journey" marks CRG’s third major art installation and second for its Chapter residential brand. The firm also collaborated with artists for its Upshore Chapter development in Chicago’s historic Uptown neighborhood (which features a triptych interior piece by Brandin Hurley) as well as its A.M. 1980 development in the Bucktown neighborhood (which includes a mural by Mauricio Ramirez).
Broadway Chapter features studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, including 15 one-bedroom lofts sporting 20-foot ceilings; 4,500 square feet of indoor amenity space, along with a library; a fitness center with Peloton bicycles and a yoga area; and a resident lounge with a coffee bar. The landscaped outdoor courtyard features a sun deck with an infinity-edged swimming pool, in-pool loungers, grilling stations, dining areas, a fire pit, and terrace seating.
More information is available at broadwaychapter.com.
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Courtesy of Taylor Johnson
BEFORE: The months-long installation process for "Cosmic Journey" was completed entirely by hand. Artist Drigo used a mechanical lift to prime the panels, sketch the design, and completing all detailing.
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Kevin Brown
AFTER: Covering 5,000 square feet of concrete panels, a new public art installation, "Cosmic Journey" by Drigo, has been unveiled at Broadway Chapter, a 242-unit apartment community located at 401 Hemphill St. in Fort Worth’s Near Southside district.
