It’s Time for Karavakia! (And no, it’s not a Greek dish)

The Greektown Arts & Space Committee recently installed a new art project called The Greektown Karavakia Display. This initiative pays tribute to the long-standing and popular Christmas tradition in Greece of decorating small boats with paint, other materials and twinkling lights. Yes, we love the idea of painting holiday boats – and so do the artists!

Each of the 30 small boats (Καραβάκια) in the display has been painted/decorated by a local Chicago artist. These boats are being placed inside windows and other prominent spots throughout our Greektown community. Very soon, we’ll be sending out a list of all the local businesses where you can stop in to see the unique karavakia.

In addition, a larger-size karavaki has been placed atop a pedestal base in the Greektown Temple (on the corner of Halsted & Van Buren) alongside the Greektown Christmas tree. This boat, painted by distinguished artist James McNeill Mesple, is being moored to the tree with a strand of lights, and illuminated by spotlights.

Among the gifted artists whose creations will dazzle us, we are especially delighted to showcase the talents of Louis DeMarco, David Holt and Fernando Ramirez from Project Onward (a non-profit organization for professional artists with mental and developmental disabilities). Their individual artworks are not to be missed!

Make your plans to see The Greektown Karavakia Display now through January 15, 2018.

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