Taste of Wheaton leaves mark with tile wall

It’s not often community members are allowed to decorate the buildings owned by their municipality.

Wheaton families, though, are being encouraged to let their inner artists out to play.

As one of many activities scheduled for the 2011 Taste of Wheaton, which begins today and runs through Sunday, June 5, downtown at Memorial Park, residents will be invited to contribute their artistic talents at the launch of Wheaton Park District’s Tile Wall Project.

“It just kind of lets the Wheaton community put their own stamp on programming for years to come,” said Megan Raitt, preschool and camps manager at the Wheaton Park District and one of the project’s organizers. “It’s a program we’re really excited about.”

For $20, individuals can purchase a tile kit that will allow their design to be converted into a 6-inch tile square to be placed in the park district Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Road, near the early childhood room.

“Our community center is used so many times every day, seven days a week,” Raitt said. “It’s a great way for families to put their mark on it and come back year after year after year to look at it.”

Although the program’s official launch is set during the Taste of Wheaton, eight kits already have been purchased to decorate and return, Raitt said.

The festival, launched in 2009 and incorporating both Cream of Wheaton and the city’s Autumn Fest, will feature an arts and crafts show, wine and beer gardens and carnival attractions. Carnival wristbands can be purchased for $20 at the event and may be used Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Musical performances by bands including Generations, Vital Signs, Avalanche and the Chi-town Showstoppers as well as 2007 “American Idol” finalist Gina Glocksen are set for throughout the weekend.

The park district also will occupy a booth from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the center of Memorial Park in conjunction with Kidz Kingdom Child Care and Wide Horizons Preschool to generate interest about the tile project and offer on-site decorating.

Kits may also be purchased at the community center front desk or at the DuPage County Historical Museum.

“Right now it’s kind of open-ended,” said Raitt of the goal number of tiles for the project. “Of course we have high expectations.”

The money raised for tile decorations will contribute to park district funding, Raitt said.

Sheri Rovansek, Kidz Kingdom coordinator at the park district, has experience overseeing a previous tile art project.

“I did the program one other time at a park district I was at before,” Rovansek said.

Rovansek has children of her own and believed the tile project would be a nice way for them to “create some art that would be displayed in the community that they could look at for years to come.”

Ideally the tiles will create a mural the length of the first-floor hallway near the children’s center, Rovansek said. There is no cap on the number of tiles Raitt and Rovansek are accepting and no set installation date.

“I thought if my kids liked it then maybe other people might too,” Rovansek said.

Whether it be in memory of a loved one, to exhibit your passion for a favorite Chicago sports team or just because the project seems fun, everyone is encouraged to participate in this colorful display of community identity regardless of artistic prowess.