A story in the Chicago Tribune’s business section last week noted that Aurora is one of the nation’s best cities for creativity. That assessment might get an argument from Waukegan, and even Chicago.
Aurora certainly has arty types walking around the far west suburb, which is either the second or third-most-populated city in Illinois (west suburban Naperville and the City of Lights switch the spot often, as census numbers ebb and flow).
Chicago surely has more artists, but Aurora was rated for its creative businesses (stores and workshops) that support creative ventures set against its population (an estimated 176,679).
According to the Tribune story, the creative designation was bestowed by a website called Creative Fabrica, an online platform for crafters and designers. The company surveyed 200 U.S. cities. Aurora placed sixth overall, and was the only Illinois city ranked in the survey.
Waukegan, which has its own Boho creatives, with an arts and entertainment district, was overlooked. Ahead of Aurora for creative types was Kansas City, Kansas, followed by Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lakewood, New Jersey, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Charleston, South Carolina. Another Midwest city, Grand Rapids, Michigan, ranked ninth in the survey.
Of course, these online surveys are geared to get our attention. Who isn’t a sucker for clickbait when they list various top 10 polls?
Over the past month, dozens of these so-called “top” lists have inundated the in-basket, usually unsolicited. Not included are the updated daily presidential polls. Every other one of those surveys gives either Vice President Kamala Harris the edge on Nov. 5, or former President Donald Trump the margin of victory. We’ll find out on Election Day.
But those “statistical top 10” reports, which normally include commentary by “experts,” do grab our consideration. Such as: “Most Stressful Cities?” Detroit. “Best College Towns in America?” Austin, Texas. “Best Baseball Cities?” New York City. “Safest States in America?” Vermont.
There are more of them, many more. You get the idea.
Yet to ignore Waukegan’s avant-garde community is a shame. The city goes out of its way to support, foster and nourish artistic free spirits, along with the offbeat.
Art studios and ateliers flourish in Waukegan’s downtown along and off Genesee Street, from Grand Avenue south to Lake Street. While murals adorn building walls, local theater and Historic Genesee Theatre offerings are available. Aurora, too, has similar benefits in its downtown.
Waukegan has public artwork scattered in and around the downtown. Soon, the old Carnegie Library will be turned into the Waukegan Historical Society/Park District Museum after a total gut job and remodel.
The late local artist Jim Harrington kicked off Waukegan’s artistic revival in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His legacy includes ArtPark, a miniature alley park at 14 S. Genesee St., just south of Washington Street, which he founded in 1997.
Original sculptures and paintings by Harrington, who died in 2000, were originally featured. Following his death, the park has floundered, but remains a potent reminder of the artistic force in the city’s downtown.
Then there is ArtWauk, the city’s “monthly explosion of the arts” which celebrates art and artistic endeavors in downtown Waukegan and at Belvidere Mall, which is at Belvidere Street and Lewis Avenue. In warmer months, festivities are held at Waukegan Harbor. ArtWauks are held on the third Saturday of each month.
City officials have noted that each free ArtWauk is unique, as art exhibits, galleries, eateries, musicians and featured performances vary from one month to the next. An upcoming ArtWauk is from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 along Genesee Street and its environs.
The year ends with a holiday ArtWauk from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 21. North Avenue, north of Franklin Street, in the city’s historic Near North Side neighborhood, too, has a contingent of artistic shops and studios.
Continuing the downtown artistic motif, live jazz can be found at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23 at A Cuban Experience, 119 N. Genesee St., when Trombone Dave and the Lawn Clippings is the featured act. Other performers also play other weekly dates at the cigar lounge and store.
While Waukegan’s artistic ventures may have been ignored in the national creative survey, at least the city didn’t make one of the sadder reports, unlike Chicago. The Windy City, for the 10th straight year, has been dubbed the “rattiest” city in the U.S., according to Orkin, the pest control company, ahead of rat-friendly Los Angeles and New York.
Staying off that dismal list takes creativity, which Waukegan and its support of the arts surely has.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
X: @sellenews
