A work of wonder

Wonder-filled: Off the Wall apprentices, including Zaria Gilmore, above, piece together a mosaic at Wonder Works on North Avenue. The ribbon-cutting will take place this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Veronica Coffey, of Oak Park, works on a mural at Wonder Works on North Avenue in Oak Park. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Volunteers work on finishing up the aquatic mural at Wonder Works on North Avenue in Oak Park. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Volunteers work on finishing up the aquatic mural at Wonder Works on North Avenue in Oak Park. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

J.P. Retterg, of Oak Park, fills in the lines on the mural at Wonder Works on North Avenue in Oak Park. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A volunteer adds pieces to the mural at Wonder Works on North Avenue in Oak Park. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A public mural is currently going up on the side of the Wonder Works children’s museum, 6445 W. North Ave. in Oak Park. The mural is the work of the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s annual Off the Wall apprentice program, which allows area young people an opportunity to get paid while learning artistic skills and creating public artwork. 

This year’s mural is a marine-inspired mosaic, the creation of which is being guided by Carolyn Elaine, a master artist who has worked with Off the Wall program participants for several years. 

According to Camille White, executive director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council, Elaine received a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency to attend a residency to learn cement work. Elaine trained the Off the Wall apprentices on creating bas relief for the mural, White said. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mural is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Aug. 12 at 12:30 p.m. 

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com