On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC) held a modest celebratory event to reveal the repainting of Astrid Fuller’s 1977 “Pioneer Social Work” mural. The west panel of the mural was damaged by fire, but fortunately the art was not completely destroyed and was slated for repair.
A team lead by mural artist Damon Lamar Reed completed the west panel restoration project thanks to HPKCC donors and a Shirley J Newsome Beatification Grant from the South East Chicago Commission.
In 2011 the University of Chicago and the Chicago Public Art Group jointly supported a full restoration repainting of the PSW mural. That project was also completed by muralist Damon Lamar Reed and his team to preserve the historic art in the community.
The PSW mural can be seen on the northeast wall of the E 57th Street railroad viaduct, immediately west of the AKA Sorority Headquarters.
