Herbert Pulgar and his controversial city sticker artwork

Without ever being printed, nor making it on to the windshield of any car, Herbie Pulgar’s Chicago city vehicle sticker artwork is the most famous city sticker ever.

Pulgar’s artwork was the original winning design in last year’s city sticker design contest organized by the City Clerk’s Office each year.

But just after winning his award and receiving the requisite media attention, concerns over whether the artwork contained gang related symbols erupted and Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, who’s office handles administering the city’s vehicle sticker program made the tough, but proper decision to not use Pulgar’s design.

A media maelstrom ensued, and the story went from local to national very quickly.

After offering the honor of appearing on 1.3 million windshields to the contest’s runner-up and having her ultimately decline, the Clerk decided to design the 2012-2013 sticker in-house.

But just when Pulgar and his controversial design were finally, mercifully fading from Chicago’s collective memory, the controversy re-emerged this week.

According to a report in the Huffington Post, U.S. Representative Luis Guittierez has selected Pulgar’s city sticker artwork to appear in a Congressional art display showcasing the art of constituents being held in Washington D.C.

“Herbie is a great kid who deserves recognition and praise for this wonderful and positive piece of art,” Gutierrez said in a statement. “I think it’s a credit to Herbie and his family that he chose to honor Chicago’s first responders and I’m very proud to have his artwork represent the Fourth Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

Pulgar and his mother are in D.C. to see the boy’s artwork in the show this week and will also tour the Capitol Building as well as the White House.

With the 2012-2013 city sticker season rapidly coming to an end, can we finally put the Pulgar controversy to and end too?

Let’s hope so.

Here’s the Huffington Post’s coverage, “Artwork Of Herbie Pulgar, Chicago Teen At Center Of City Sticker Dustup, To Go On Display In D.C.“