CENTURY WALK PROJECT LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN, GOALS FOR 2ND YEAR

March 2, 1997 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL) — Author: Pucky Zimmerman

A new board of directors is in place, brochures have been printed and a logo adopted.

The Century Walk project is ready to enter the second year of a 10-year program to place public art works in Naperville's downtown.

At Thursday's meeting of the Central Area Naperville Development Organization, Brand Bobosky distributed the new brochures and reported that representatives of the Illinois Arts Council had come to town to view the three art works that have been produced to date.

Last year, the council backed the project to the tune of $10,000, and Bobosky said it will probably "get behind us again this year."

It was Bobosky who first conceived of a Century Walk to commemorate significant Naperville people, places or events of this century.

Last year, the city gave the project $30,000 through a 1/10 of 1 percent increase in its hotel/motel tax.

Bobosky told CANDO that he will return to the City Council on March 11 to ask for another $30,000.

Additionally, the Naperville Jaycees have given the Century Walk a $2,500 grant, which Bobosky said will probably be used for plaques to accompany the various art works.

The plaques will carry explanations of what the individual pieces portray.

Harris Bank Naperville paid for the full-color Century Walk brochures which will be available in local hotels and businesses.

They are in a mailable form, so hotel guests can use them like post cards, Bobosky said.

The Century Walk's first year saw the completion and installation of three public art projects.

A mural by Timm Etters depicting the town's history of publishing covers the west wall of the Naperville Sun building at 9 W. Jackson Ave. A bronze bas relief commemorating the Naperville Municipal band is on the west wall of Firstar Bank, 136 S. Washington St. And Jennifer Hereth covered two lounge-like benches in mosaic tiles to pay homage to Kroehler Furniture's former presence in the city.

Due to weather constraints, only one of the benches is completed.

They sit outside Riverwalk Plaza at 175 W. Jackson Ave.

The goal is to add three more art works each year for 10 years.

The murals, reliefs, mosaics and other art mediums will wind through the downtown and beyond.

"Hopefully, a person could spend a whole day viewing the Century Walk," Bobosky said.

Besides Bobosky, the 1997 Century Walk Corporation board of directors are Jini Clare, Jean Clark, Jonathan Croll, Glen Ekey, Rick Hitchcock, Sharon Hoogendoorn, Julie McCutcheon, Dee Pasternak, Donald Weber and Fran Wilson.

Organizers of the Century Walk art project have chosen this as their logo to adorn brochures and other printed material.
 

Section: NEWS — Page: 6