Illinois Prairie Community Foundation to Unveil Sculpture by Award-Winning Artist Herb Eaton
BLOOMINGTON – “Who’s There,” a sculpture by award-winning local artist Herb Eaton, is being added to the new outdoor Sculpture Park at One Normal Plaza. The six-foot-tall bronze piece will be unveiled Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at a public ceremony where donors to this public art initiative will be recognized.
Eaton explains, “The piece is a sculptural consideration of a young man willingly showing who he is. He is greeting the viewer by stepping forward, tipping his hat, and beginning to remove his mask. Taking off a mask is a sign of beginning trust in all human relationships.”
Eaton was recently featured in the Emmy-nominated PBS Prairie Fire documentary “Herb Eaton: Maker of Things.”
Public art aims to increase appreciation for the arts through murals, sculptures and other pieces that are visible to anyone in the community without having to walk through a door.
This sculpture is funded by the Fund for Public Art, managed by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, through the efforts of Dave and Diana Hauman. The Haumans hope to keep funding more public art in McLean County.
“Dave and Diana saw a piece of art and asked what it would take to make it belong to everyone. That’s what the Fund for Public Art does. It turns one family’s generosity into something the whole community walks past every day, no ticket and no appointment required. We hope this is the first of many.” said Erik Rankin, CEO and president of Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
The Sculpture Park at One Normal Plaza is a Town of Normal pilot project for its new Public Art Master Plan. The Sept. 22 ceremony is free and open to the public with parking available at the Community Activity Center.
About Illinois Prairie Community Foundation
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation connects generosity to local impact by stewarding resources, cultivating partnerships and fostering equity across our region. IPCF empowers individuals, families and organizations to create meaningful change – today and for generations to come. The foundation manages funds including endowments and agency, designated, donor advised, field of interest, scholarship and unrestricted funds. More information is available at www.ilprairiecf.org.
Community Partners for Illinois Prairie Community Foundation are: The Drake Zimmerman Group, Heartland Bank & Trust, Meyer Capel, WGLT, Busey, Bloomington Bison, Beam Philanthropy Partners, Edward Jones, First Mid Wealth Management, Northern Trust, Renaissance Wealth Management BN, TAYLOR, Bank of Pontiac, Donald Heinold CPA, Marlon Eilts COUNTRY Financial and Westminster Village.