Joliet Arts Commission Narrows Sculpture Choices to Six Presentations by Finalists on Wednesday

The Joliet Arts Commission has narrowed the list of finalists for its art sculpture contest. The six finalists will present their proposals at the Joliet Arts Commission meeting on Wednesday, September 18th, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

This past spring, the City of Joliet and the Joliet Arts Commission issued a national call for artists to submit proposals for a unique sculpture to be installed in the center of the proposed project. Initially, fifty artists submitted proposals. An internal review committee, comprising members from the Arts Commission and city staff, evaluated these submissions based on criteria such as innovation, uniqueness, and visual impact. From this rigorous process, fourteen designs were selected as sub-finalists.

In late July, the public were invited to vote on their favorite designs from the fourteen sub-finalists. Nearly 3,000 votes were received during the voting process, according to Ray Heitner, the staff liaison to the Arts Commission. “We were pleased with the amount of input we received,” stated Heitner. “Now we are asking those interested to attend the meeting on Wednesday to hear the presentations and participate further by voicing their opinions during the public comment section.” Members of the public who are unable to attend the meeting can email their comments in advance to [email protected].

A vote on the finalists will take place on Wednesday, October 2nd, during a special meeting of the Arts Commission. The winning sculpture will be prominently placed in the newly designed City Square, a 1.3-acre urban park being constructed directly across from the Rialto Square Theatre. The project is scheduled for completion by late 2025. For more information about the project, please visit the City’s website at Joliet.gov.