WABASH ARTS CORRI-DOORS: JESUS ESTEBAN
TITLE
Indigenous Dream
ARTIST STATEMENT
I remember having no clue about my ancestry. “We are Mexican,” didn’t mean that much to me when my parents would say it. The older I got, the more I realized how much more important it was. I later realized that I was of Indigenous American descent, specifically the Mexican Empire. My family traces back to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Eastern Aguascalientes, and Western Guanajuato, along with Guerrero and Morelos. Yup, that’s a wide range of family. The more I dug into my ancestry, the more I began to dream about about it. Each stroke in the sky is a bit of information that I have learned, while the dots are gaps I have yet to fill. I am honoring the God of Wisdom, the Sun, and Light, Lord of the Day and Winds, and Ruler of the West, Quetzalcoatl. I decided to use the Feathered Serpent God as the embodiment of an accumulation of knowledge I have collected over the past years. I know that as I continue on learning more about my family history, I can turn to Quetzalcoatl for wisdom.
ARTIST
Jesus Esteban
LOCATION
Hilton Chicago: 720 S. Michigan Avenue (Wabash Avenue Side)
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jesus Esteban is studying Music at Columbia College Chicago and is expected to graduate in 2026.
PHOTO CREDIT
Sieanna Rowe
About This Project
This project was generously commissioned by Hilton Chicago in conjunction with the Wabash Arts Corridor. The Wabash Arts Corri-Doors project was founded by Yvvi Atanassov ’20 About Hilton Chicago.
About Hilton Chicago
Conveniently located on Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park, the iconic Hilton Chicago combines a contemporary design with an exciting atmosphere. The 1,544-guestroom hotel boasts more than 234,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and can accommodate large conferences and conventions, smaller meetings, and elegant banquets. Additional amenities include an indoor running track, large fitness center, indoor pool as well as dining options including Kitty O’Sheas Irish Pub, Herb N’ Kitchen, and 720 South Bar & Grill.