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By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city’s newest piece of public art stands out both for what it is and what it is not.
What it is not is abstract or inanimate, unlike the other sculptures spread around the city through an initiative of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
What it is: a giant rabbit popping out of a hat.
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“Magical Thinking” is the creation of Actual Size Artworks, a Stoughton, Wisconsin-based sculpting duo of Gail Simpson and Aristotle Georgiades. It depicts a gold bunny with a furrowed brow popping out of a magician’s black tophat.
It was installed Friday on a plot of land just outside of Rockford City Market, next to the future Disco Chicken at 212 E. State St. It replaces “Prism Arc,” which was previously in that spot. Sculptures, unless permanently donated, are typically leased for a two-year period.
“I think it’s goofy. I think it’s fun. I think it’s unexpected,” said Kristen Paul, executive vice president of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s totally different than any sculpture piece that we’ve had in our program before.”
The location was fitting because the bunny plays off the City Market logo affixed to the peak of the outdoor pavilion: That logo is of an over-sized carrot.
“It’s playful. I think kids will love it. I think adults will love it,” said John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We placed it there in large part because of the City Market connection — produce and the carrot — and also it’s just such a well-trafficked location that has a lot of families and a lot of kids. We think it will be a new favorite.”
The sculpture is one of a handful being installed in the lead-up to the CRE8IV Music & Arts Fest next weekend, May 31-June 2.
There will be four additional sculptures placed on Thursday, and an additional piece is in the works for Huffman Boulevard.
“Rockford’s art scene is growing and thriving,” Groh said. “I think these are very visible, tangible demonstrations of a creative community.”
The other public art pieces being replaced with the new sculptures are “Articulated Column” at West State and Winnebago streets, “Windswept” at Main and Mulberry streets and “Lady of the Lake” on the west bank of the Rock River.
The sculptures, and the murals that are part of the visitors bureau’s CRE8IV initiative, are all funded through donations and sponsors. “Magical Thinking” was donated by the David and Colleen Anderson Foundation and Bucciferro Family McDonald’s.
The new additions bring the total number of sculptures added through the visitors bureau’s initiative to 16, according to its website.
The goal is to invigorate public spaces with vibrant works of art that can help establish an area’s identity and show it is a culturally active area.
“It’s just about unexpected and often colorful works of art that slow you down enough to make you smile or think about, and maybe take a selfie with,” Groh said. “Just overall creating a great sense of place.”
The new sculptures
- “Magical Thinking” by Actual Size Artworks | at Rockford City Market (Donated by David and Colleen Anderson Foundation and Bucciferro Family McDonald’s)
- “Hold Me Up” by Ben Pierce | near The Norwegian, 1402 N. Main St., and the Auburn and Main streets roundabout (Sponsored by Tom and Darlene Furst, Liz Dickinson and Gerrie Gustafson)
- “Millenium Gate” by Jim Galluci | on the west bank of the Rock River
- “Steve and Rachel” by local artist John McNamara | at Main and Mulberry streets
- “Keyhole Flutter Gateway” by Jim Galluci | at the corner of Wyman and Elm streets
Sponsorship
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring a sculpture or a CRE8IV mural, can contact Kristen Paul, executive vice president of the visitors bureau, at 815-489-1661 or kpaul@gorockford.com.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas