Moser sculpture to be dedicated this weekend
May 1, 2009 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL) — Author: Kathy Cichon
In the past, Century Walk Corp. would send out invitations to those involved with a new piece of art for the dedication ceremony. But not this time.
For the dedication of the sculpture of philanthropists Harold and Margaret Moser, everyone's invited.
"With the title of Mr. and Mrs. Naperville, why not make it a Naperville-wide celebration?" said Brand Bobosky, president of Century Walk.
The dedication takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Millennium Carillon's Moser Tower near Rotary Hill. Preceding the ceremony will be a carillon concert from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Then, the Naperville Municipal Band will start the ceremony, followed by remarks from Bobosky, Mayor A. George Pradel, members of the Moser family and others. The ceremony will be followed by a reception at The Riverwalk Eatery, sponsored by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home.
"We've been working on a sculpture of Harold and Margaret Moser for probably three years, maybe four. They were Mr. and Mrs. Naperville, and we had them on the Century Walk agenda a couple of years ago," Bobosky said. "Then we wound up putting the sculpture on hold while we did some other things.
"Now is their time," Bobosky said.
Moser was well known as a civic leader, philanthropist and businessman. He is credited with developing half of Naperville's residential communities, such as the Cress Creek and White Eagle subdivisions. A supporter of the city's Catholic churches, he donated 10 acres of land each to St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Margaret Mary and St. Raphael parishes. Moser also donated $1 million for the construction of the Millennium Carillon.
Because the Mosers are so connected to development in Naperville, the sculpture depicts the idea of the couple developing.
"That's why he's got his foot on a shovel, like it's for another ground-breaking," Bobosky said.
Created by artist Bart Gunderson, the approximately six-and-a-half-foot bronze sculpture of the couple has a more rugged base, which transitions to a more detailed finish toward the top with depictions of various locations in the city.
"They're creating themselves, they're creating the community," Bobosky said.
The sculpture, including costs such as transportation from the Colorado studio where it was created and installation, cost approximately $125,000. The majority of the funding came from the city's Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund. The Naperville Park District is providing the landscaping, and the Riverwalk is the location for the sculpture.
Comment at napersun.com
Section: OBITS — Page: 4
