NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — The town of Normal will buy four pieces of art for its planned sculpture park at Normal Plaza.
At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Town Council approved the nearly $70,000 purchase of the pieces of permanent art, said town spokeswoman Cathy Oloffson.
The sculptures will be placed at 1110 Douglas St. near the Community Activity Center at One Normal Plaza.
The selected artwork comes from Illinois-based artists, including Dann Nardi of Normal.
Oloffson said that, as recommended by the town’s Public Art Working Group, the Council approved the purchase of the following artwork:
- “In and Out of the Blue” by Dann Nardi – a large circular concrete sculpture, 12 feet in diameter, which includes an opening and a series of globes that invite visitors to sit or engage with the art
- “American Kestrel” by Shawn A. Hensley of Champaign – an 8.5-foot-tall colored concrete sculpture of an American Kestrel perched upon a tree-like base
- “Whorled” by Nicole Beck of Chicago – an 8-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture with custom laminated outdoor-grade colored, dichroic glass; the glass showcases different colors when viewed from different directions
- “Happy, Happy, Happy” by Jeremy Burdette of Bartonville – a 6-foot-tall carbon steel sculpture on a 3-foot base, the gleeful piece mimics an enthusiastic person with raised arms
The art will be installed in spring 2026 and the town will host a grand opening for the sculpture park in time for the Route 66 Centennial.
Oloffson said that when installed, these pieces will join the existing memorial sculpture, “Circle of Friendship,” which stands in front of the Community Activity Center.
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