95th library to get Seuss statue, too

July 1, 2008 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL) — Author: Mike Mitchell

Dr. Seuss fans will get a second dose of the legendary illustrator and author in Naperville when a "Green Eggs and Ham" sculpture pops up in front of the 95th Street Library sometime next year.

The City Council has approved the "Green Eggs and Ham" theme for 2009, which includes $57,500 as a deposit to begin building the 9-foot-tall monument. The total cost of the statue is $115,000 - a discounted price, according to Brand Bobosky, president of the Century Walk Corporation, a nonprofit organization that helps promote public art throughout Naperville.

Bobosky said that because the art is part of a limited collection, the price goes up as the pieces are sold. The Century Walk was able to lock in the $115,000 price earlier this year.

"At this rate, we would like to make Naperville a place where Dr. Seuss lovers can visit to appreciate part of his legacy," Bobosky said. "We thought that because of his work as an illustrator and author, the (95th Street) Library was a perfect place to display 'Green Eggs and Ham.'"

A "Cat in The Hat' statue last fall was placed at the Jackson Avenue entrance of the downtown Nichols Library.

The statue will be financed by the city's Special Events and Cultural Amenities funding, which is distributed yearly to local organizations that help promote and sustain cultural amenities here.

This year, the city distributed about $2.57 million from the citywide 1 percent food and beverage tax. Century Walk received about $274,000 in SECA funding this year, which will also help maintain the board's 31 pieces of art that can be found throughout the city. Century Walk also plans to install statues of Naperville philanthropists Harold and Margaret Moser at the Moser Tower, part of the Millennium Carillon.

The "Green Eggs and Ham" statue will be similar in color and style to the monument in front of Nichols Library. It will feature the "Sam I Am" character presenting a platter of green eggs and ham, according to Bill Dreyer, curator of Seuss collection for The Chase Group, which is the exclusive distributor of the art.

Installing a statue in south Naperville also accomplishes another goal of the Century Walk. Bobosky said the corporation has wanted to start placing art throughout the city rather than only in the downtown area.

"We've already commissioned 31 pieces of art since 1996, and we have goals to bring art to outer Naperville as well," Bobosky said.

Comment at napersun.com

"Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss is the subject of the next Century Walk sculpture, which will cost $115,000.

Section: SPECIAL TAB — Page: 7