Do You Think Balloons Cry When You Let Them Go?

Themes: homeless youth, social issues

This mural by Sam Kirk and assistant Eva Cancino is located on 1724 W. 16th Street and was created in 2012 to raise awareness for homeless youth in Chicago. It is a part of the Chicago 25th Ward Mural Initiative. The balloons are said to represent the delicacy of the youth while suggesting that we should hold on and nurture our youth longer than we do. Kirk is seen using similar styles from other works around pilsen, creating an almost mosaic animation.

Two weary skeletons are unable to grasp balloons as they slip away from their reach. In the center of the mural we are able to see an outline representing the city of Chicago and in the middle of the black and white depiction of the city, one seen a child sitting outside and staring at the balloons that pass them by.

A message by the artist states: “With thousands of homeless youth in Chicago, there has to be a way to stop letting them go”. The mural was created to bring attention to the issue of youth homelessness. Unaccompanied youth aged 14-24 made up a total of 11,067 of the population in Chicago 2016. Unaccompanied homeless youth make up 4.8% of total enrollment in Chicago Public Schools, The state has seen an increase of 4% in recent years of homeless youth enrolled in schools. This potentially can indicate a rise in identification or else a rise in the actual population. Of the homeless youth enrolled in schools, 88% live doubled up in the home of others, 10.7% are living in shelters, and less than 1% in motels. They are an overwhelming children of color, 98.3%, meaning that people of color are a vulnerable population who may not be receiving outreach they may need. Along with that, it has been found that 23.4% of those enrolled in schools experience some disability or developmental delay. The lack of support at home for these children can challenge their growth and can be a huge risk factor in their developmental trajectory.

Sam Kirk poses a question we give rare thought to. When a person lets a balloon go, it is an effortless motion often accompanied without a second thought about where this balloon is going or where it will end up. The skeletons in the mural can barely hold themselves down, suggesting an inability to latch on to the balloon.Whether it is from slipping away, you letting go accidentally or purposefully, or it escaping without reason, once it is gone it is gone. A person doesn’t think back hours later or stay up at night with the thought about where the balloon went, simply due to the fact that when something is out of sight, it is also out of mind. This concept applies to the problem of homeless youth in Chicago, who often go unnoticed in the midst of a functioning society.

By putting up this mural, the artist is intending to raise awareness about a vulnerable population who cannot afford another back being turned to them. This calls for action needed toward better outcomes for this population, as well as addressing the fact that youth homelessness is a huge problem in both Chicago and the state of Illinois.