Gabriel Villa
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Villa is a Chicago
-based artist and muralist.
in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood depicting three Chicago Police Department
public surveillance
cameras that carried the CPD logo along with other images, like a crucified Christ
, a deer head and a skull
. The mural was painted over completely by the Graffiti Blasters
at the behest of 11th ward Alderman
James Balcer
, sparking a local controversy over censorship, surveillance and private property.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based artist and muralist.
2009 mural censorship controversy
In May 2009, he was commissioned to paint a mural on a private propertyPrivate property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood depicting three Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
public surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
cameras that carried the CPD logo along with other images, like a crucified Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, a deer head and a skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
. The mural was painted over completely by the Graffiti Blasters
Graffiti Blasters
Graffiti Blasters is a program to eliminate graffiti, street art and gang-related vandalism in Chicago, Illinois. The program is structured as a privately owned business based in the city government...
at the behest of 11th ward Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
James Balcer
James Balcer
James A. Balcer is alderman of the 11th Ward of the City of Chicago . A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the Chicago City Council by Mayor Richard M...
, sparking a local controversy over censorship, surveillance and private property.