Public art often is taken lightly.
However, public art can add the touches to communities which brings togetherness, a light touch, and offers a serious vein of accomplishment.
Even controversy can be found in discussions of what is art and what is the symbolism?
Public art in three downtown communities, in Aurora, Batavia, and Naperville, offers a contrast. Aurora’s theme is Bikes in Bloom, a project of 10 sites where bikes are painted in colorful styles with garden planters. Batavia has Bulldogs Unleashed, the mascot of Batavia High School with many designs and artistic touches. Naperville has 18 themes of colorful hearts. Sponsors in Naperville and Batavia reveal community support.
Aurora mayor Richard C. Irvin said he saw Bikes in Bloom in a city on the West Coast.
He said it is, “a fun and simple, yet symbolic way to bring new art and energy to our downtown.” The city government collaborated with Wayside Ministries for the used bicycles and businessman Tim Oros volunteered to paint the bicycles in vibrant colors for the many causes which have an impact on society.
Batavia’s Bulldogs Unleashed program will wind up in auctions for the colorful bulldogs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Eastside Community Center in downtown Batavia.
Joshua Schultz is one of the artists called in on the job in a project which took many hours to complete.
“There was a lot of time involved,” Schultz said. “There are sponsors for each bulldog and their input to reflect their business was important. We had to work together. One concept was a corn dog, suggested by Rebekah Axtell, with a dog as an ear of corn (click here to see photos). I worked 20 hours before painting the dogs. Involved were drawing and redrawing.”
Most projects take much longer than is perceived by most of us. It should come as no surprise painting the bulldogs involved more than splashing on colors in a few hours. Schultz was sworn to secrecy about his involvement until last month when he could reveal his participation. He will receive payment for 20% of the auction income of his bulldogs. There were several other artists in Batavia. His artistic work had to pass inspection prior to starting the project.
The bulldogs are largely fiberglass. The many colors around downtown Batavia have been eye-catching.
Naperville has themes for their hearts. Three of them include, “Your Love Gives Me Butterflies” by Twelve Limbs Art Studio, “Dreams Let Your Heart Soar” by Donna Davis, and “Heart Full of Art” by Angela Morgan. Sponsors of all 18 hearts helped propel the project. Many communities realize that artists’ involvement in downtown project offer a vital atmosphere. Artists in Aurora have offered growth in the downtown.
The 10 launch sites in Aurora for Bikes in Bloom: Benton Street at the Swimming Stones; Broadway between the Central Fire Station and the Aurora Regional Fire Musuem; Downer Place at Broadway, across from City Hall, and at the north riverwalk entrance; Galena Boulevard across from the Paramount Theatre and at Broadway; LaSalle Street and Downer; New York Street at River Street and just east of the railroad overpass.