The Preservation of Solidarity, the Labor Mural at UE, Chicago
@ Uri-Eichen Gallery
2101 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
Opening Friday, November 14th, from 6PM - 9PM
On view through Thursday, January 1st
Receptions: Opening, November 14th, 2025 from 6pm to 9pm
and Human Rights Day Show, December 12th, 2025 from 6pm to 9pm
7pm on both reception events: Discussion with artist John Pitman Weber, Carl Rosen, UE General President, and Stephanie Strickland, Chicago Public Art Group on the history and the preservation of the mural.
Open by appointment outside of receptions. For an appointment call or text 312 852 7717 or email gabbyfish@hotmail.com.
Photo by Chicago Public Art Group
John Pitman Weber, board member of URI-EICHEN Gallery, worked for many months with Jose Guererro between 1972 and 1974, for free, to create the labor history mural of the UE Union on the interior stairwells and landings of their main office at Ashland and Monroe on the near west side of Chicago. It was a comforting and inspiring backdrop for many labor union members inside and outside of the UE and other progressives that were lucky to see it in its home space when in the UE hall for meetings or events.
Photo by Chicago Public Art Group
When the UE building was sold, it became clear that the mural would be destroyed during renovation. To preserve substantial parts of the mural, the UE and others including Chicago Public Art Group made enormous efforts locally and nationally to raise funds for that purpose. Parma Conservation was retained to restore several mural panels from the site following removal. Those panels will be displayed at the Chicago Teachers Union and the UE Local Union Hall in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the building used by the union’s largest and oldest local.
This exhibition details photographic and large paper images of the mural, its dismantling, and preservation with the photos of CPAG, Carl Rosen, John Pitman Weber, and J Burger.
Thanks to the Chicago Public Art Group, John and Elsa Pitman Weber, and the UE
Official Website
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Tags: Carl Rosen, Chicago, Elsa Pitman Weber, J Burger, John Pitman Weber, Jose Guererro, Lower West Side, Stephanie Strickland, the Labor Mural at UE, The Preservation of Solidarity, Uri-Eichen Gallery
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