ROCKFORD ART MUSEUM | RAM TALKS ART | GREAT ART TO BE SEEN WHILE YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT

RAM Talks Art: Great art to be seen while you're out and about

By Stacey Sauer, Education Coordinator, Rockford Art Museum

It's hard to believe, but summer is almost over. Kids are back in school, and soon it will be time for leaves to change color and weather to turn cool. But don't let that stop you from enjoying the rest of the season. Head on outside to enjoy the great weather we've been having. Oh, and while you're out and about, stop and enjoy some of the great public art the Rockford region has to offer.

If you've visited Riverfront Museum Park recently, you may have noticed the return of The Big Chair. Created by local artist Jim Julin, the 16-foot-tall sculpture pays homage to Rockford's history of furniture-making, and has been part of Rockford Art Museum's Armer Ahlstrand Sculpture Garden since 2003. You may notice it has had a facelift; The Big Chair is now painted blue instead of its well-known green hue.

Another place you may want to visit is the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, near the intersection of Riverside Boulevard and McFarland Road. Dedicated in 2001, the plaza was designed to celebrate the universal hope of world peace and harmony.

The main sculpture, Harmony Atlas, was designed by local artist Lee Sido, who was inspired by the Blaeu Map of 1605 A.D. The flat design of the map eliminates manmade borders of geographic regions, and allows the viewer to examine the whole world from a single point of view. The granite pedestal at the base of the sculpture is embellished by 10 peace quotes from ancient and modern prophets of peace. The reverse side of the sculpture details 200 years of settlement in the Rockford region. Surrounding the sculpture are five Peace Poles in the shape of obelisks. Written upon these, in 60 languages, is the simple prayer: “May peace prevail on Earth.” Forty flags represent 40 different nationalities that all currently reside in Rockford.

The Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza celebrates the International Day of Peace each year. Greg Mortenson, co-author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time (the 2008 One Book, One Rockford selection) spoke to children Sept. 19 at the Peace Plaza to celebrate this year. That same evening, he gave a free lecture hosted by Rockford Public Library (RPL) at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.

Are you looking to get out of the city for the day? If so, take a day trip down the Rock River to Lowden State Park (Oregon, Ill.) and visit the Black Hawk statue. This monolithic statue was designed by Lorado Taft, an important artist in the RAM Permanent Collection, and sits on what was once home to the Eagle's Nest Art Colony. The statue itself is almost 50 feet high, although it sits more than 125 feet above the Rock River. Although Taft said The Eternal Indian (the statue's real name) was inspired by the Sauk leader Black Hawk, it is actually a blend of the Fox, Sauk, Sioux and Mohawk cultures.

While you are enjoying these examples of public art, take time to really interact with and examine the piece. Is it realistic or abstract? What do you think the artist is trying to communicate? How do the materials help convey the meaning of the sculpture? Would the meaning change if it were made with something else? What would the piece look like if it were viewed from a different angle, say from above or below? Why was the piece placed in this location?

Even if you are unable to enjoy the pieces listed above, there is still plenty of public art for you to see. Keep your eyes open through our region, and you may just notice a piece you've never seen before.

Contact Rockford Art Museum Education Coordinator Stacey Sauer at ssauer@rockfordartmuseum.org.

from the Sept. 24-30, 2008, issue

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