On the west side of Main Street is an alley known as Rubin’s Way where the “Parade of the Century” goes by on one side, watched by Naperville citizens on the other. Some faces in the painted crowd are familiar and some are just average folk, but they all are enjoying the parade.
“Naperville Loves a Parade” was dedicated, appropriately enough, just after the Last Fling Labor Day Parade in 2014.
Three artists, along with assistants, worked on this mural for four years. Adela Vystejnova, who created the “Parade of the Century” on the opposite wall as well, originally lived and studied art in the Czech Republic. Diosdado Mondero, who immigrated from the Philippines as a child, also painted the “Pillars of the Community” mural on Main Street. Marianne Lisson Kuhn was born and raised in Naperville and worked on several Century Walk pieces including “The Way We Were” and “World’s Greatest Artist.”
Over 300 faces appear in the crowd and many local landmarks and businesses are featured as well. To be included in the mural required a donation ranging from $600 to paint in your face and up to $5,000 to depict your business’s building. About $220,000 was raised through those donations.
There was also a contest to win a spot on the wall. Folks were asked to count how many times Greg Haldeman’s likeness appears in the crowd and Lynda Reilly submitted the winning answer.
Current businesses such Casey’s Foods, Hotel Arista and Quigley’s Irish Pub are illustrated as well as some historic businesses like Bev Patterson’s Piano & Organ.
Naperville’s high school mascots appear in the crowd and the old Nichols Library, Martin-Mitchell Manor from Naper Settlement and North Central’s Old Main are some of the landmarks visible in the background.
The Lima Lima planes fly overhead and there’s even a version of Michaelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” in the clouds. You could spend a good deal of time finding all the little details and it would make a nice addition to your next downtown or Riverwalk stroll.
