Art spoke with eloquence, and distinctly in labor's language at the 1998 Union Hall of Honor Awards Dinner. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Labor History Society, and held on Saturday, November 14, at the Midland Hotel in Chicago. Inducted into that mythical Hall of Honor were practitioners of three of the arts: music, drama, and painting as seen in Chicago's labor theme murals.

A powerful traveling mural on canvas showing singer-actor Paul Robeson appearing for the UAW at the Dearborn Ford plant was hung behind the head table. The painting was the work of Kathleen Farrell of Joliet. She has produced approximately 50 murals in the Joliet area, almost all containing a labor reference.

Heading a group of labor song troubadors was Allen Schwartz. Written especially for the occasion, Schwartz presented a musical essay on the many ways in which a song can meet the needs of a labor situation. In addition to Allen Schwartz, the musicians who performed are: Minna Bromberg, Eileen Censotti, David Martin, Norman Roth, Kathleen Taylor, and Tim Yeager. The organization through which they can be reached is the Chicago Peoples' Music Network.

A short video of actress Kathlyn Miles in the role of the young 1894 Pullman Strike leader, Jennie Curtis, was a high point in the program. The power that lies in the words of Solidarity Forever, written by Ralph Chaplin in 1915, became abundantly clear when it was read in the form of a poem by Madeleine Fallon, the Actors'Equity Association's Regional Vice-President. The evening concluded with the image of Paul Robeson on the 12x12 ft. screen as the audience heard his great voice singing the immortal, Joe Hill, followed by a snatch from a Robeson speech in which he asserted the obligation of all artists to join their union.

Those inducted into the mythical Union Hall of Honor were: Alma Washington, representing the actors; William (Bill) Walker for the muralists, and Paul Robeson for the musicians. The Robeson citation was received jointly by Margaret Burroughs and Mark Rogovin. Ms. Burroughs is a well-known Chicago poet and artist who had been a friend of Robeson. Rogovin is the chairman of the Robeson Centennial Committee, 1998 being the 100th anniversary of Robeson's birth.

The centerpiece of the event was a video tour of three great exterior murals. The on-screen guide was ILHS president Les Orear. It was shot and edited by Greg Boozell. The three outdoor murals visited in the video tour are: The Worker by Bill Walker, as restored by Bernard Williams. Located on the south wall of the Charles Hayes Family Investment Center, the building is the former union headquarters of the United Packinghouse Workers, AFL-CIO. Now the property of the Chicago Housing Authority, it is at 49th and Wabash; The Fabric of Our Lives, a mosaic by Cynthia Weiss and Miriam Sokoloff on a west wall of the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center, 3000 W. Touhy; Teamster Power, by Pittsburgh artist, Mike Alewitz, with major assistance from Mona Fox and Janet Gould. It is located in the parking lot within the Teamster City complex at Jackson and Ashland. It can be seen partially from Jackson.

An 18-minute videocassette of the murals is now available, and can be ordered from the Illinois Labor History Society. Send your check for $24.00, shipping included. Illinois residents should add $2.00 for sales tax. We are at 28 E. Jackson, Rm 1012, Chicago, IL 60604.

The dinner host for the musicians was Bill Danio, Regional Director of the United Food and Commercial Workers. The Chicago Federation of Labor hosted the table of mural artists. They work through the Chicago Public Art Workshop, Jon Pounds, president.