Open-heart surgery saved Chris Campagna’s life when he was 5, but it was art that saved his spirit.
During his two-year stay in the hospital, several other young patients died, including a friend. Reading and painting still life scenes from his hospital bed at the former Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital helped him deal with his sorrow. He taught fellow patients about the power of imagination during hard times, too.
He was a hit.
“There wasn’t much to do so I started painting and reading,” said Campagna, a lifelong Blue Island resident and a 1989 graduate of Eisenhower High School. “One of the doctors said, ‘That’s brilliant Chris, can I buy that?’”
It was the start of a lifelong association with art. These days, Campagna is painting murals throughout his hometown. His latest is a sepia tone market day scene with horses and carts, produce, a trolley and village dwellers painted on the massive concrete wall beneath the Western Avenue flyover Bridge at 13339 Old Western Ave. in Blue Island.
The mural is a throwback to the early days of Blue Island, which was settled in 1835 and is considered one of the oldest communities in Cook County. Campagna reimagined the scene using old photos from Mayor Fred Bilotto and pictures from the Blue Island Historical Society, among other sources.
He incorporated the texture of the surface he’s working on to add details to the image.
“I’m using the imperfections of the wall to make it look like the brick of buildings here,” Campagna said.
His murals in Blue Island, which are being funded by the village, are part of an effort to revitalize the community, he said.
“I grew up in Blue Island, as the mayor did,” Campagna said. “It’s a lot about the revitalization of Blue Island and making it a destination point.”
Other mural works in the city include a picture of Al Capone on the side of BadaBing Wings at 13325 Olde Western Ave., a “postcard image” of the village on the wall of D’Masti Catering 11915 Western Ave., and one on the outside wall of Haas Tavern, 12725 S. Western Ave.
He’s done many other works throughout the Chicago, including a Horse of Honor paying tribute to fallen police officers in front of Corby & Demetrio, 33 N. Dearborn St., an “Atlas Shrugged” sculpture for Cool Globes and he participated in creating the Christmas horns outside of Macy’s on State Street in Chicago.
Not bad for someone who is self-taught.
“Who’s going to teach this?” he said, pointing to his work on the side of the bridge.
While he started his art career in the hospital, he gave it up at age 8 when his dad died. He was also badly burned in a kitchen accident when he was 10. Campagna attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for three years, majoring in Comparative Literature. But at age 25, he started painting again, founding his own company, Campagna Studios. His work also includes designs, illustrations, photos and sculptures.
He said he wants his work to provide “hope and comfort” to people, and he hopes it also inspires his two sons, Tristan, 12, and Luke, 9.
Campagna’s former Eisenhower High School teacher, Charma Wicks, still keeps in touch with him via social media.
“He’s very energetic and enthusiastic and he was exactly like that in high school,” said Wicks, who taught Campagna in a U.S. history class and saw him at a 30-year reunion several years ago. “He’s a family man and it’s wonderful to see him use the talent he has to promote his community.”
The artist is responsible for the big grape leaf on the wall of Rich Levy’s Butter and Vine catering business in the West Loop.
“I think Chris has a real knack for bringing good ideas to life,” said Levy, who has known Campagna for years.
Campagna’s story and artistry has even inspired a film documentary in the works by Brian Edwards. Edwards, an environmental scientist who films in his spare time, met Campagna at the Zhou B art gallery in Bridgeport where his mother, Barbara Lahey Edwards, also has a gallery.
“He was definitely a character,” said Edwards of that first meeting. “He gave me and my wife a blessing, then he was talking about his art and I was like, who is this guy?”
Then Edwards was driving by the flyover bridge in Blue Island on his way to an industrial site and saw Campagna working on the wall. He stopped to talk with him and broached the idea of a documentary. A friendship ensued.
Edwards said Campagna had a way of spreading joy through his work and his personality.
“He always has some insight, he could almost be a motivational speaker,” Edwards said. “He’s all about positivity and love and spreading that and I think that’s what he tries to do with his art.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
