HOBART — Artist Darlene Vassil is accomplishing two objectives as she paints a second mural on the restroom building at Robinson Lake Park —she’s adding to the beauty of the park that she loves and is making a subtle statement about an immigrant detention center possibly being built next door.
“Artists need to make their statements,” Vassil said recently as she added touches to the large blue heron that flies through blue skies and over a tranquil lake in her unfinished mural.
Vassil, a Hobart resident and member of the Friends of Robinson Lake and Concerned Citizens of Hobart, said she loves the lake, and the idea that there could be a detention center next door bothers her.
No proposals have been made to the city yet, but Florida-based GEO Group, which builds and operates for-profit immigrant detention centers and prisons, has purchased property and met with city officials.
Vassil decided to convey her feelings in her new mural, which also will be donated to the parks department, but she stressed that she would never do anything blatant.
“I wouldn’t put the parks department in that position. The Robinson Lake people are trying to support ‘no Hobart prison’ without crossing the line of good taste,” she said.
Vassil, an art teacher at Crown Point High School, said she chose to paint birds, which are a symbol of freedom, to convey her feelings. Besides the heron, she intends to add smaller birds, ones native to the area and that can be seen at the park.
Mayor Brian Snedecor said the city discourages people from using public buildings to promote personal views, but Vassil’s artwork is subtle enough to allow.
“The painting’s in good taste, and it reflects the nature and beauty around Robinson Lake. I don’t think it reflects one person’s personal issue in the community,” Snedecor said after seeing a photo of the mural.
Snedecor said he thinks highly of Vassil, whom he said has done great artistic work at Robinson Lake Park.
Vassil said graffiti sprayed on the concrete-block restroom building prompted her to paint her first mural in 2010. The choice of a tree-lined lake as the subject of that mural was inspired by Bear Country RV park — another proposed development for the adjacent former St. Sava Hall site where the detention center could now go.
Sandy O’Brien, president of the Friends of Robinson Lake, said the organization welcomes Vassil’s murals, which “make it a quality park.”
Vassil said she will probably spend about 36 hours on the mural, planning to finish around Labor Day weekend, but she’s not done painting the building. She said she will eventually paint all four sides.