War of Art: Homeowner Fights Graffiti in an Unusual Way

A Chicago family wouldn’t let a vandal get the best of them despite damage to their home.

The Campagnas of Chicago’s Historic Pullman neighborhood saw the graffiti on the garage and decided to do something about it. They grabbed paintbrushes and chalkboard paint, and turned a defaced door into a blank canvas fit for the family’s artwork.

“We as a family wanted to turn something that was negative into something that was 100 percent positive—as a family,” said Chris Campagna, a professional artist.

The panels offered glimpses into the minds of his 3-year-old son Tristan and 10-month-old son Luke: flowers, hearts, a drawing of a house. Even a few scribbles. Artistic expression at its most free and innocent—with Campagna and wife Sharon right beside them re-decorating their door.

The vandalism was a personal affront to Campagna, whose work is featured in Chicago museums, the Miami Grand Opera House, and a McDonald’s at Navy Pier. His creations includes murals, chalk art, paintings, and sculptures.

Ultimately Campagna used it as a chance to create a a giant chalkboard to cover the negative graffiti, as a gift to the children and people of the neighborhood.

“Chicago is in dire straits,” Campagna said. “My wife is a teacher for Chicago Public Schools, and I’m a self-employed artist. We called 311 and they could do nothing. With that said, we decided to handle it on our own. Save the taxpayers money and make something original and positive. ... Do it yourself. Help Chicago.

“I gave them an erasable chalk board that we can have fun with,” he said. “It was for the boys and the local kids. I hope that others can try something similar in the future, and rewrite their own story if their home is vandalized.”

You can see more of Campagna’s work here. He can be reached at 708-829-6069, or ccampyart2@yahoo.com.