“The quality of life of Black and Brown people on the South Side should be 100% better than it is. I’m going to tackle that by handling vacant land and vacant buildings. I’m going to make cultural space on those vacant sites. I’m an artist. And I want to focus on art, culture and beauty.” – Theaster Gates, Founder and Executive Director of Rebuild Foundation
When it’s time to rebuild a community some see colors of green and blue and an oasis of creativity that awakens children of the ghetto. Children of possibilities need to dream, for their dreams have been economically, socially and maliciously taken away from them for the advantage and the privilege of others.
What is it to be vacant? What is it to be empty? What is it to be desolate? What is it to be isolated from economic creative progress? It is 13 acres that have not created an economic oasis, nor a spiritual oasis until someone had an additional dream to rebuild.
The abandoned oasis could be felt as the DJ continued to embrace the energy of what makes Chicago one of the most well-defined cultural inspirations in the country. The truth of the matter is we have been wronged. The wrongdoings were never more clear than when life expectancy was examined through the study by five Black women at the Chicago health department. It was then that many realized there are actually people that care enough about us to inquire about our lives to react and then take action.
The beauty of Kenwood Gardens is an obvious treasure. The hope expressed in every face and smile therein typifies exactly why all the kind words were initially laid upon the dreamer. This isolation needs solace, peace and the harmony it deserves in pursuit of new hope every day.
Garden building on the southside of Chicago is as much about the spirit of the people as it is its hallowed and historic soil. Claiming Chicago grounds is more about actually doing the work and disregarding anyone who has no vested interest in creating or rebuilding what we know is a loving space on this earth.
The true beauty of Kenwood Gardens is best exemplified when creatives like Theaster Gates, along with community partners such as the City of Chicago and other philanthropic organizations come together with Black media to promote the truth. With stirring music as a backdrop and Black culture creators to furnish compelling content, we embrace Black love so others can observe our innate ability to heal and make this world a better place — for ourselves, first and foremost.
With economic opportunity, faith and a real opportunity to cash in, there exists a vision beyond what was. This vision can and will be carried out by our offspring and their offspring with a real belief that there was always a garden in his neighborhood — one that allows him to take proactive steps, realizing he was born a giant.
