Since the summer of 2020 and through the end of October, residents and visitors to West Chicago have enjoyed the bright pink yard signs featuring haiku, an English language poem written in the Japanese poetry style drawing on short, concise wording with a reference to nature. A total of 49 yard signs were placed in public spaces and in local neighborhoods.
Due to popular demand, and for the many who did not make the deadline for the initial public art project, a second round of haiku is being solicited. Poets, community members or any stakeholders in West Chicago are invited to submit a fall-themed haiku to be featured on new signs which will be redesigned for greater readability. Submissions are invited in any language and should follow the haiku format of 3 lines containing 5-7-5 syllables. There is a limit of three poems per person, and the deadline for submission through an online form found on the City’s website is October 1, 2020. (Spanish language form)
Yard signs will be produced by the City and installed in additional front yards of residents or businesses that submit a request through a host location request form. (Spanish language form) The WCCAC will, in collaboration with the City, select the best-suited sites.
Summer haiku yard signs remain in place until the last week in October at which time a Commission volunteer will remove the sign, and if requested by the homeowner who will be contacted via email about their continued interest, replace it with the fall-themed haiku. The haiku creator reserves the first right of refusal to receive the summer yard sign at no cost, after which the homeowner may request to keep it.
A new map of locations will be created and added to the City’s website, www.westchicago.org to help those interested in exploring the autumn phase of community creativity through poetry.
The WCCAC would like to thank all those who have participated in making this project of positivity such a success. For questions, please contact Commission Staff Liaison Rosemary Mackey at rmackey@westchicago.org.
