Wild Mile Projections - a collaboration between Urban Rivers and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Barada
Barada brings the memory of Damascus's Barada River into dialogue with the waters of the Wild Mile. Drawing from the earliest known depiction of the river in an 8th-century mosaic from the Umayyad Mosque, the projection explores themes of belonging, displacement, and the ways memory transforms landscapes into places of cultural and personal significance. Depicting the Barada as a vision of paradise—golden water, mountain villages, and towering riverside trees—the historic mosaic is brought into conversation with the Chicago River and the restored ecology of the Wild Mile. Rather than serving as a memorial, Barada creates a meeting place between two rivers, inviting viewers to reflect on what it means to carry a sense of home across distances and to find connection and belonging in an unfamiliar landscape.
Thursdays, 9:00–9:30 PM
July 16, July 23, July 30
Artist: Jude Kharchou