Events

Community Mural Painting Day: Ireland and the Making of America

During Open House Chicago weekend, pick up a brush and become part of a lasting piece of art at the Irish American Heritage Center! Join us for a special Community Mural Painting Day celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States through the theme “Ireland and the Making of America.”

Led by professional Chicago artist, Ken Klopack, this guided, hands-on painting experience will bring the community together to create a large-scale mural honoring the Irish men and women whose stories, culture, labor, and contributions helped shape the United States. Participants will have the opportunity to paint a portion of the mural and quite literally leave their mark on a piece that will remain on display at the IAHC for years to come.

Participation is completely FREE, and no previous painting experience is necessary. Participants must be 12 years of age or older.

To make sure everyone has plenty of room to paint and an opportunity to meaningfully contribute, participation will be divided into three one-hour time slots: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM, 12:00–1:00 PM, and 1:00–2:00 PM, with 20 advance registration spaces available per hour.

If spaces remain available on the day of the event, visitors will be welcome to sign up in person. However, advance registration is strongly recommended to guarantee your opportunity to participate, as each time slot is limited.

Once completed, the mural will become a lasting piece of community-created artwork at the Irish American Heritage Center, commemorating both America’s 250th anniversary and the enduring connection between Ireland, Irish America, Chicago, and the story of the United States.

This special artistic activation was selected for support during Open House Chicago for its close alignment with the festival’s art-focused initiative and its mission to connect audiences with the cultural and civic life of Chicago as part of the America250 celebration.