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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville's new public-private ArtForum to unveil new artwork at Nichols Library
A new public-private nonprofit devised to help Naperville expand its repertoire of public art is officially live. Dubbed 'ArtForum: The Naperville Partnership for Public Arts,' the initiative launched last month and will unveil the first new artwork with which it's been involved Wednesday at Naperville's downtown Nichols Library branch. 'It's going to be our coming out party, in a way,' said Michael Gold, a Naperville resident and chair of ArtForum's executive board. The venture has been more than a year in the making. For nearly three decades, soliciting and producing public art in Naperville had been the work of nonprofit Century Walk Corp. But after relations began to strain between Century Walk and the city — and the organization itself faced internal changes as well — Naperville started to chart a new path forward. Last September, early plans for a reinvigorated public art program were laid out at a meeting of the city's Special Events and Community Arts Commission. The cornerstone was a public-private partnership that would help the city solicit public art projects, similar to what Naperville has had for years with the Naperville Development Partnership, which promotes city business interests. About a month and a half ago, ArtForum secured its 501(c)3 nonprofit tax status, according to Gold. '(We've) been really getting all our ducks in a row' to secure that so they could capitalize on as many funding opportunities — grants, for instance — as possible, he said. 'We're just going to do our best to find as many funds as we can that absolutely do not turn back on the city,' Gold said. 'We don't want this to be a burden on taxpayers. The worst thing that can happen for public art is that the community feels that money is being spent somewhere that it shouldn't be. 'Art should be enjoyed. It should be appreciated. It should build a community. … It should tell our stories. It should reflect who we are, and the minute it becomes what dollars were spent on, it kind of sullies all of that a little bit.' ArtForum is led by a five-member executive board. It also recently formed a 20-person community advisory board. Asked how ArtForum will go about facilitating public art in town, Gold said the process will be a mix of seeking artists for projects the organization has in mind and artists pitching their own ideas. On its website, there is a submission form for public art proposals. 'What we're really trying to do is be the conduit between the artist and the community,' he said. 'In doing that, it's helping to find funding, helping to find locations, helping to find a venue. … That's really what our philosophy is at this point.' ArtForum's first community event Wednesday is the unveiling of works created by Naperville artist Richard Lo as part of a larger, county-wide art initiative. This summer, the Cleve Carney Museum of Art at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center is presenting a new exhibit entitled, 'Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection.' The exhibit, which will run through Sept. 21, will immerse guests in Japan's Edo period (1603-1868). The collection features 53 paintings and woodblock prints by the masters of ukiyo-e, a major artistic genre that flourished during the Edo period. In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum partnered with Lo to create ukiyo-e style images showcasing the cities and villages that make up DuPage County. Lo, reached over the phone, said he made 37 pieces in all for the initiative, called 'Waves of DuPage: Beautiful Cities.' Works highlight distinctive locations in each participating municipality, which ranged from Naperville to Hanover Park. For Naperville, Lo highlighted four places: Dandelion Fountain, Millennium Carillon, the Naperville Riverwalk Covered Bridge and the city's downtown along Jefferson Street, Lo said. The pieces will be displayed in windows at Nichols Library. Wednesday's unveiling ceremony begins at 5 p.m. ArtForum will be there to commemorate the occasion because it helped bring Naperville's participation in the county project to fruition, Gold said. Looking ahead, ArtForum is currently eying its next venture. The nonprofit has put out a call for artists to fashion a new mural that will be installed on the side of the downtown Lima Brex building at 220 S. Main St. Any artists or artist teams interested in applying can submit a brief description of their proposed work and a rough mural sketch to shannon@ The deadline to apply is July 18. The chosen mural will be displayed from October through next April. Gold, who grew up in Naperville, said what ArtForum plans to do — and his being a part of those plans — is 'very exciting.' 'I have always been in awe of the commitment that the city and the community has had for art,' he said. 'From the sculptures to the paintings to the murals to everything that's up around town, it's obvious that people work hard and believe in those pieces. And to be a part of organizations that help facilitate that in town, it's quite an honor.' Naperville City Clerk Dawn Portner, who is also a founding member of ArtForum, echoed Gold. 'I can't wait to see what (ArtForum) is going to do,' she said. 'I think the future is just going to be amazing.'
Chicago Tribune
31-01-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Naperville City Council candidates forum set for March 8; DuPage health department offering pool safely grants
Naperville City Council candidates forum set for March 8 A forum for the candidates running for the Naperville City Council in April will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. The free, public event is sponsored by the Chinese American Women in Action and the Alliance of Indian Americans of Naperville Area. Organizers noted Asian Americans make up about 20% of the city's population. 'We want the potential voters and the candidates to have an opportunity to interact and gain a better understanding about our community's needs and concerns,' Nancy Chen, president of CAWA, said in a statement. All eight candidates are confirmed to participate, organizers said. They are Meghna Bansal, Jennifer Bruzan-Taylor, Mary Gibson, Ian Holzhauer, Nag Jaiswal, Derek McDaniel, Ashfaq Syed and Benny White. Residents interested in attending should register at Naperville student helps church to earn Eagle Scout rank Naperville resident Henry Freeman, 18, earned his rank as an Eagle Scout after spending 149 hours creating a Little Free Library and restoring a picnic table for Grace United Methodist Church, troop leaders said in a news release. Freeman, a senior at Metea Valley High School, is a member of Troop 81 in Naperville. He and his team collected materials, assembled and installed a wooden Little Free Library in the upper parking lot of the church at 300 E. Gartner Road. They also reconstructed a picnic table by taking it apart, salvaging the top boards and building a new frame. Freeman has been a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church and said his project was a way to thank the church for what it's done for him, the release said. Wellness Series focuses on staying healthy while aging Joanne Whiteside, a holistic and wellness nurse coach, will lead an 'Age is Only a Number' discussion at 1 p.m. Monday, March 3, as part of the Fort Hill Activity Center's Wellness Series. The discussion will focus on ways to stay healthy while aging, including the importance of physical activity, nutrition, sleep and social life, a Naperville Park District news release said. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can improve physical and mental capacity, delay care dependency and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the release said. Participation is free for Fort Hill Fitness members and $5 for nonmembers. Members must register in person at the activity center or by phone at 630-995-8900. Nonmembers can register at DuPage health department offering pool safely grants Applications are due by Feb. 28 for public swimming facilities that want to receive a grant to provide free swimming lessons to Illinois children. The DuPage County Health Department has been the recipient of the Pool Safely Grant Program since 2018. As part of this initiative, the department offers grants in an effort to reduce childhood drownings, a news release said. Up to 10 Illinois public swimming facilities will receive awards ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 each to provide free swimming lessons to 3- to 5-year-olds. Eligible organizations include public swimming facilities, schools, municipalities, park and recreation organizations, swim schools, residential communities and health centers, the release said.
