Public Display of 13 Sculptures Continues

Support of 16 Donors Boosts Forest City Beautiful Through Public Art

June 29, 2020

Rockford, IL ­­– As part of its city-wide Forest City Beautiful initiative, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) is excited to announce a one-year extension allowing thirteen sculptures to remain on public display in Rockford. The pieces have been displayed since 2018 as part of the Rockford Sculpture Walk, and thanks to the generosity of many local donors they will remain in the Forest City until June 2021.

Nine different artists from the Midwest were carefully chosen by a selection committee for the opportunity to feature their work at various locations in the Rockford region. The artists are Ruth Aizuss Migdal, Teresa Lind, Christopher Newman, Ben Pierce, Bruce Niemi, Paul Bobrowitz Jr., Bill McGrath, Andrew Avenetes and Gary Kulak.

“We live in community that embraces and celebrates creativity, so we’re excited that our residents and visitors will continue to enjoy these 13 excellent outdoor works of art for another year,” said John Groh, RACVB president/CEO. “We carefully selected these nine artists because of their unique talents, and we are thrilled to again have the support of so many generous donors who have made this 12-month extension possible.”

RACVB would like to thank the following donors for their support and contributions that helps keep this art on display in the Rockford Region: David & Colleen Anderson for support of Column Triangle; Kyle & Marge Bevers for support of High Flight; FurstStaffing for support of Heels Over Head; Tom & Darlene Furst for support of Flappers; Lisa & Mark Lindman for support of Two Cubes; Kyle & Marge Bevers and WIFR for support of Angles Shadows II; Chad Anderson, Bobbie Holzwarth and Supplycore for support of Urban Moai Figure; and Marcia Mueller & Chuck Prorok and Mary Ann Smith for support of The Generosity of Creativity.

For those interested in supporting the Rockford Sculpture Walk or other RACVB programs, please contact Martesha Brown, RACVB director of advancement, at 815.489.1655 or mbrown@gorockford.com. Complete details about the Rockford Sculpture Walk, including an updated walk map, can be found at www.gorockford.com/publicart.

In 2015, RACVB’s Forest City Beautiful initiative began revitalizing Rockford’s downtown areas to improve the quality of place within the city center through enhanced streetscapes, way-findings, walkways, and other public areas. Forest City Beautiful’s integration of public art, including these 13 sculptures, provides residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy creative experiences and places.

The mission of the RACVB is to drive quality of life and economic growth for our citizens through tourism marketing and destination development. www.gorockford.com

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Nick Povalitis, RACVB vice president of marketing & sports development, 815.489.1652, npovalitis@gorockford.com.