Rosen urges locals to Be Like Mike. His yellow traffic sign mural along the lakefront in Rogers Park depicts Michael Jordan in a mask.
It’s summer, and just like everyone else in the city, I want to be outside and enjoy our long days. But, every time I go by the lakefront, I’m completely terrified at the sight of nearly everyone walking, running, biking or skating along the path without a mask… never mind the fact that they don’t adhere to social distancing either.
It’s completely irresponsible. Is it so difficult to simply put on a mask and keep your distance? At this rate, my hood and my city are going to mass spread COVID and be forced back into a lockdown before the end of summer.
My mural from last year’s Artist of the Wall Festival was showing poor signs of weathering, and I was planning to touch it up.
However, then I thought… there’s a more important use for that high traffic area at Tobey Prinz beach by Pratt Avenue. If people won’t listen to our mayor, or medical experts, or parents, or friends… maybe, just maybe… they’ll listen to a legend… to an icon.
So, I repurposed Michael Jordan’s “Wings” poster from Nike in 1986. To this day, it’s one of the most iconic posters ever made. The life-sized photo of Jordan, with his arms spread out wide, captures his motivation to take flight and elevate himself to the highest level.
As the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery writes:
The Wings poster documents a shift in athletes’ earning potential from their performance to their endorsement deals; it also marks a historic moment when African American sports figures could serve as role models to all Americans.
To get my message across in this busy area… I decided to paint a large traffic sign. The color scheme is just as important as the visual itself. Our yellow street signs provide instruction to use caution, and the same color is used on our school buses… a symbol of education.
Jordan’s wingspan is 6’ 11”, and this piece has him to life-size scale. When I place a mask over Michael’s face, the visual instruction is simple: wear a mask and spread out. In order to conquer this virus, we need to educate those who don’t take it seriously.
Thanks for reading. You can learn more about me here.