The Sound Barriers Vol. 4
An Art Installation by John Vergara
September 14-24, 2026
Presented alongside “How We Got On”
at Definition Theatre, 1160 E. 55th St
Planning to see “How We Got On”?
Tickets to the “The Sound Barriers Vol. 4” are included in your ticket. Learn more.
About the Installation
Chicago-based artist John Vergara time travels via boomboxes, the ultimate muse. In 1980’s Chicago, Vergara was immersed in hip-hop, funk, and house music. Sharing and mixing music. Playing until the neighbors complained. Walking around with a pocket full of cassettes, the iPod’s predecessors. Boomboxes are vintage status symbols that helped define a decade. In a world now dominated by smart devices and music streaming sites, the boombox is overlooked. Still, music is more intimate when shared—hence the sound barriers.
The people presented in the paintings live here in Chicago, with some originally from New York, New Orleans, Detroit, and Miami. Vergara’s vibrant brushstrokes, paint splatters, and graffiti work embody the movement of sound. His cityscape photographs embody a lively party scene we call home. His portraits present music as a life form accompanying each person.
About the Artist
John Vergara has had a passion for art since the age of 7. Growing up in Chicago urban art served as a survival tactic, helping him overcome neighborhood challenges. A desire to cope marked the beginning of Vergara’s journey with mural art. Over the years, he has had the honor of collaborating with leading artists in the world of muralism. Vergara is proficient in acrylic painting, having created more than 200 public works, and he has recently been exploring the world of digital photography. For 20+ years, he has curated art shows, including both solo and collective art exhibitions, in the Chicago area.
Apart from creating, Vergara is an advocate for the protection and preservation of historical public art. While being interviewed for various local media outlets, Vergara often discusses the issue of concealed murals. These discussions have helped lead to the City of Chicago Mural Registry, an organization safeguarding communal artwork for the city of Chicago.
Follow Vergara and his journey @johntheartist1973.
Visit
The exhibit is open Monday-Thursday from 5-9p from Monday, September 14- Thursday, Sept 24.
PRESENTED ALONGSIDE
How We Got On
by Idris Goodwin
September 11-27
at Definition Theatre
Guided by a sultry DJ who spins their stories with wit and wisdom, this electrifying production celebrates the passion, creativity, and determination of the generation that helped build hip-hop from the ground up—one beat, one rhyme, one battle at a time.
