Rockford’s sculpture program is doubling in size with its largest summer installation yet
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A program that brings sculptures to public spaces across the city is doubling in size this year with a target of installing 16 new pieces this summer. It would be the largest single-year installation in the program’s decade-long history.
The program, which is run by GoRockford and Forest City Beautiful, has leased sculptures with donor funding for temporary display since 2015. It’s expanding this year thanks to an injection of funding from Hard Rock Casino Rockford taxes.
Last year, installations included “Magical Thinking” — which is an oversized gold-colored bunny outside Rockford City Market — and “Keyhole Flutter Gateway” near the BMO Center, among other pieces. That brought the total to 15 sculptures installed through the program. Now, 16 new sculptures are slated to be installed in seven areas of town. One existing sculpture will be relocated and begin a new two-year lease.
“When you travel to a community and you see works of art, including sculptures or murals, it sparks a little bit of joy,” said John Groh, president and CEO of GoRockford. “It brings an awareness that you’re in a creative, artistic community. When you walk by it, it tells you that somebody thought of you before you got there and that they want you to be there.”
The City Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee on Tuesday agreed to provide $135,250 to fund the initiative. The money pays to lease, deliver and install the sculptures, which are typically loaned for a two-year period. City Council is expected to vote on final approval next week.
The money comes from the portion of Hard Rock Casino Rockford revenue that’s dedicated to arts initiatives. Hard Rock’s $7 million in guaranteed gaming taxes go toward nine city initiatives ranging from pension obligations to funding Rockford Promise scholarships. The city dedicates $250,000 annually for the arts.
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GoRockford made a national call to artists earlier this year and received about 50 proposals, Groh said. GoRockford has identified the sculptures it plans to lease but it won’t finalize contracts with artists until the funding is approved. GoRockford will then work with city staff to finalize the locations before installation.
Here’s a breakdown of the general area the sculptures are headed:
- Two to North Main Street north of Auburn Street
- Two to South Main Street north of the 15th Avenue bridge
- Three to the Broadway business district
- Three to the Perryville Path between Guilford and Spring Brook roads
- Two to Harrison Avenue along the path adjacent to Collins Aerospace
- Four to the linear park along West State Street
- One to downtown near the BMO Center
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Forest City Beautiful has been improving the city through landscaping and public art since 2014.
“We think the results have been pretty significant from what we hear from visitors and residents,” Groh said. “When we see people taking photos by them for their senior portraits or their wedding photos or graduation pictures or prom pictures it tells you these are the backdrops and the enhancements of our daily life and our visitors’ lives.”
Get a closer look at some of the proposed sculptures and locations in City Council documents HERE, scroll to the bottom for images.
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
