American flag on silo along Route 47 in Huntley nearly complete

If you’ve driven down Illinois Route 47 through Huntley in the past month, you may have noticed a new work of art at the intersection of Reed Road.

Algonquin artist Lexi Mangieri, 25, has been working to complete a mural of the American flag with the words ‘God Bless America’ underneath on a silo along Reed Road just to the west of the intersection. The project should be finished this week, Mangieri said.

“With weather and stuff, it’s probably delayed about a week and a half,” Mangieri said Monday. “I’d say if I didn’t have to worry about weather, it’d probably take about two weeks.”

The painting was commissioned by the property’s owner, Chuck Ruth.

“The concept was our family’s concept,” he said. “We looked at different ideas, and we liked this idea the best.”

Ruth was introduced to Mangieri through Mangieri’s former job at a Sherwin Williams paint store.

“All the managers know me as the artist, so the manager brought it up to the sales [representative] and the sales rep knew the owner who was looking for someone to do the flag,” she said.

Mangieri recently started her art career full time after earning her degree in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. While experienced in painting, this project was new for her.

“I’ve never worked on something this tall,” Mangieri said. “I’ve never used a lift before either, so that’s been a little exciting to figure out.”

The silo is 50 feet tall and built with bricks, which Mangieri used to measure out the flag’s size on the structure. After eight gallons of paint, she’s nearly done.

“The cold has definitely been a challenge,” she said as temperatures sat in the lower 30s Monday morning. “If it was not as cold, I probably would’ve gotten done faster and maybe a little better.”

The project has been fun despite the cold, Mangieri said.

“So many people have driven by and honked and said it’s amazing and everything,” she said. “That’s been super cool. I feel like a mini celebrity working on this.”

Ruth said his family has lived in Huntley for six generation and is excited to be able to contribute something to the community.

“I’m just patriotic I guess. It’s very visible from Route 47 and kind of the gateway to Huntley,” he said.