Lemontsters on Parade
To be a long-time resident of Lemont is to know what it’s like to be a Lemontster: a person with local pride that runs through their core and a love for the multi-dimensional characteristics and diverse values that make up our community.
In the first installment of the new public art series ‘LeMontsters on Parade,’ local artists Ryan Hennebry and Robert Moriarty are expressing their love of Lemont with local folklore.
Legend has it that when early settlers started working in the limestone and dolomite quarries, there were tiny monsters who would either eat the rocks or cause mischief around town. From the 1800s, locals have referenced LeMontsters when sometime goes arry or when celebrating the mix of cultures and heritage.
As long-time Lemonters and locals, Ryan and Rob played with monsters in their art. The Village of Lemont worked with them to create life-size works of art that the public is free to view and interact with. We sat down with them to learn more about their work.
KG: Tell me about your piece. How did you decide exactly what to create?
Ryan: I've been creating Monsters since I picked up a pencil. I created an entire series of monsters while earning a MFA at Northern Illinois University & my exhibit was titled “Being Monster.” For this LeMontsters on Parade, I wanted to create more than one monster, a father/parental figure and it’s two kids. I decided to add a pair of Air Jordans to the center monster to give viewers something in popular culture to relate to. Who doesn’t love Michael Jordan? My most recent series of art is "Homage to the Restaurant Industry.” I've been painting food from various restaurants that I enjoy so I wanted to tie in food and I chose pizza in the center figure mouth as an homage to all of the great pizza joints in Lemont, Chicago & other suburbs.
Rob: My piece is titled, “This Le Monster Brakes for Bread and Roses.” It is a raccoon/skeleton driving a rusty monster truck smelling a rose and eating a hot dog.
On one level, the design is really as simple as coming up with an idea based on my experience living in Lemont and drawing it out. On another level, designing for a community mural project is a fairly complex process. There were a number of considerations on my end: create a fun image that celebrates being a Lemontster, create an image that opens a conversation about being a Lemontster, and create an image that sets a benchmark and model for future iterations of this project.
KG: What does your artistic process look like?
Ryan: My process varies. I often lay down a lightly painted sketch on the surface and I rework my pieces. In this piece, I changed the shapes and forms of each monster several times. The little dude on the left was green for a little while, and I decided he worked better as a bright orange. Growth, change, evolution & revision is part of all of my pieces.
Rob: My artistic process is loosely rooted at the intersection of community and studio art practices, technology, and education. I value making art, building community, and playing music.
My current working portfolio is titled “In Between Half Dreams and Laser Beams.” It is a documentation of the range of my artistic practices.
These days I’m thinking about balance quite a bit and how that applies to my work. The balance between being an artist and a teacher. The balance between being a parent, partner, and practicing artist. The balance between making studio art and community-based art. The balance between making music and making visual art.
I try to draw or paint or make some kind of art everyday.
KG: What does being a Lemontster mean to you?
Ryan: Being a Lemonster is about culture & diversity & embracing all
Rob: One of the archetypes of a monster is the monster as ‘other’ and I am playing with that idea in this piece. I think of Lemont as a bit of a misfit town. It is an atypical suburb that feels more like a small town than a sprawling bedroom community of a big city. So, LeMontsters as misfits from typical suburbanites and also Lemonsters other within the community.
For me, being a Lemontster is embracing the misfit within ourselves and our community.
KG: What is your hope for the Lemontster Installation?
Ryan: This work is playful, through this work, everyone can relate to their inner child. I want to bring smiles to faces through the monster series. My monsters over the years have represented all walks of life in a playful way.
This is a project that we will continue to grow and bring on more artists locally and regionally. To have a bunch of diverse monsters throughout Lemont!
Rob: I hope this project sparks imagination and a bit of wonder in the community. Lemont has so much potential to build a vibrant arts community. I hope this project is a continuation of the work that has been done in the last few years in Lemont to build that kind of community. I see potential in this project to bring together groups like the Arts and Culture Commission of Lemont, The Lemont Artist’s Guild, and Downtown Lemont along with other community-minded groups. This project may be able to bring LeMontsters together to envision and build more colorful, creative, and inclusive public spaces.
KG: How has Lemont inspired you?
Ryan: Lemont has always been my home, I’ve seen Lemont change so much in the 42 years I’ve lived here. As a 4th generation Lemonter, I’ve heard so many great stories from my father, my aunt, my uncle, my grandfather, and my great aunts.
My father worked at historic St Patrick’s parish in Lemont for 30+ years. My grandfather Ray & uncle Dennis were Lemont Firefighters for decades. My great Aunt Loretta taught first grade at Central School for decades.
The growth, progress & direction of Lemont is wonderful to witness. I have a great sense of pride in Lemont & I’ve created some art pieces that are related to Lemont as well as my family history over the years. During my undergraduate BFA degree I earned from Millikin University, I created a series on my childhood titled “American Toybox” The series included toys from the 1980’s & ’90s and even Air Jordan shoes. The “American Toybox” series is directly related to a wonderful upbringing in Lemont.
Rob: Lemont is my hometown. I grew up here and I live here. I am raising my children here. I love this place. It’s not perfect but it’s home.
View more of Ryan Hennebry’s work at RyanHennebry.com and more of Rob Moriarty’s work at evolve.org. The LeMontsters on Parade Art Installation will continue to grow over the next few years.
For more information on how to get involved in artist workshops, follow the Village of Lemont and Lemont Downtown on social.
