Chicago’s Greektown inaugurated a new holiday art project called “The Greektown Karavakia Display” which pays tribute to the long-standing and popular Christmas tradition in Greece of decorating small boats.
Thirty small boats (called “karavakia” in Greek) in the display have been painted or decorated by local Chicago artists and placed inside windows of the neighborhood’s businesses and other prominent spots throughout the Greektown community.
In addition, a larger-size karavaki has been placed atop a pedestal base in the Greektown Temple (on the corner of Halsted & Van Buren Streets) alongside the Greektown Christmas tree.
This boat, painted by distinguished artist James McNeill Mesple, is being moored to the tree with a strand of lights, and illuminated by spotlights.
The Greektown Karavakia Display runs through January 6, 2021.
