Don’t miss GSC’s Pilsen Mural Tour on September 27!
Tour:
The Pilsen Mural Tour is a 60-minute walk through some of the neighborhood’s most iconic pieces of public art. We will travel through 50 years of murals that colorfully express the history, struggles, and culture of the Mexican community in Pilsen. We’ll discuss the political and socio-economic role of murals in this resilient community, which is currently facing tough challenges in the city’s changing landscape. With over 20 years of experience, veteran mural guide and Pilsen resident, Luis Tubens, will share stories of how Pilsen became the neighborhood with the highest concentration of murals in the Midwest.
We will start and end at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street. The museum is free to visit, and everyone is welcome to visit the museum before or after the tour. Free parking is limited, but a public paid parking lot is available adjacent to the museum. Please be mindful of the parking signs, as no parking permits are necessary on the museum side of the street. However, permits are required on most other streets.
The walk is approximately 60 minutes long and covers a distance of roughly one mile. We will stay on the sidewalk the whole time. For the most part, the sidewalks are smooth and accessible for anyone in a wheelchair, but there may be some areas that are under construction. We will make accommodations for anyone with mobility issues.
National Museum of Mexican Art – Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago
Our Guide:
Luis Tubens is co-founder of the Pilsen Public Art Tours. He has given thousands of tours of the iconic murals in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. For 10 years, he worked for the National Museum of Mexican Art as an art educator. From there, he worked for four years as the outreach coordinator for the 7th District’s Cook County Commissioner Jesús “Chuy” García, whose district encompasses Pilsen. He also studied under the legendary muralist Jose Guerrero. His knowledge of the murals comes from years of studying Mexican art and his relationships with community organizations and muralists. He currently resides in Pilsen, and when not giving tours, he works as a performing artist.