A new mural depicting a young Moroccan man dressed in a mix of traditional Moroccan and contemporary Chicago clothing now adorns the Columbia Dance School, «linking two sister cities and blending Moroccan and Chicago cultures together», The Columbia Chronicle says. «The inspiration comes from the new generation», Moroccan artist Younes Amriss – also known as DYNAM said. «Morocco is my first inspiration; [the mural] is a mix of modern cultures», he added. The work is the result of a collaboration between the Wabash Arts Corridor, SDL Casa Events and Animation and Chicago Sister Cities International. This project was launched in 2017 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Chicago-Casablanca twinning, a program that promotes intercultural education. This exchange of murals began two years ago when Sam Kirk, a Chicago-based artist, visited Casablanca in April 2018, said Neysa Page-Lieberman, Chief Curator of the Wabash Arts Corridor and Executive Director at the Department of Exhibit and Performance Spaces of the Columbia Dance School. She also added : «When you bring a Moroccan artist here and have their work here, then it's an entry to the appreciation of other cultures».
