Devon Avenue, from Bell to Sacramento Avenue, is a lot brighter, thanks to a new public art installation, “Tuk Tuks on Devon,” which will be on display through fall 2023.
“Tuk Tuks on Devon” includes 10 sculptures which are colorful takes on “tuk tuks,” or three-wheeled pedicabs that originated in Thailand and gained popularity worldwide, providing an easy and eco-friendly way to get through busy streets quickly.
All 10 Tuk Tuks in this exhibition are designed by Chicago-based artists with a wide range of imaginative motifs such as monsters, rainbows, scenes of ancient temples and astronauts in outer space. Children and adults can interact with the art by posing for photos inside the sculpture platforms.
Sandi Price, executive director of Rogers Park Business Alliance, the nonprofit that manages the art installation, said one of the goals of the exhibition was to bring more families to West Ridge to discover the hidden gem of a neighborhood.
“We wanted to bring people to the street to see the installation as well as the wonderful businesses we have to offer,” says Price. “The special thing about Devon is the different variety of foods you can find in every store front. We’ve got Indian, Chinese, Kosher – and everything in between.”
Carolina Juarez is one of the artists behind the Tuk Tuk stationed outside Regal Jewels Inc. Juarez, from Guatemala, said she jumped at the opportunity to share a bit of her culture with passersby in Chicago.
Juarez’s Tuk Tuk is adorned with flowers, bright colors, Mayan designs, handwoven textiles and the Virgin Mary in the center.
“My sister and I decided to do this as a way to reconnect and pay tribute to our culture and ancestry,” Juarez says. “Being an immigrant myself, this installation represents a great opportunity to take me back to my homeland, as I remember the Tuk Tuk rides each time I see my own Tuk Tuk.”
For families looking to make a day out of the installation, kids will love running around at the nearby Indian Boundary Park and grabbing a unique dessert at Tahoora Sweets & Bakery.
The art installations will be stationed outside sponsoring businesses, including:
- Music House Inc., 2925 W. Devon Ave., from Richard Trumbo
- Fonté at Sign America, 2748 W. Devon Ave
- Republic Bank, 2720 W. Devon Ave., from Luis Collindres
- Regal Jewels Inc., 2629 W. Devon Ave., from Carolina & Jessica Juarez
- Sukhadia Corner, 2559 W. Devon Ave., from You Are Beautiful
- Sabri Nihari, 2502 W. Devon Ave., from Cheri Charlton
- Pulaski Court Apartments, 2260 W. Devon Ave., from Judith Mayer
- Cary’s Lounge, 2251 W. Devon Ave., from Candice Johnson
- Par Birdie, 2234 W. Devon Ave., from Tom Molloy
- Regal Jewels Inc., 2629 W. Devon Ave., from Carolina & Jessica Juarez.
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