Flossmoor soliciting art from residents to raise funds

Money needed to maintain ‘world class’ public sculpture collection

Flossmoor officials are looking to raise money to help with upkeep of the village’s “world class” collection of sculptures displayed in parks and along parkways. To do that, they’re looking to enlist residents who want to contribute some artwork of their own to the cause.

Mike Cheney, a longtime commissioner for the Flossmoor

Public Art Commission and three-time Chicago Artist of the Year, said the group is seeking a variety of pieces to be auctioned to help pay for maintenance and improvements for Flossmoor’s public sculptures. Submissions are due by March 31.

“We’re looking for artists — actually families, kids, that kind of thing — to create garden art,” Cheney said. “People can use flower pots and stack them and paint them, or maybe create something with a windchime effect.”

But the art doesn’t have to be complex. “Simple flower pots, even,” will work, he added.

Flossmoor’s collection includes eight permanent pieces and two rotational sculptures on loan from artists for three year terms. Cheney said the annual cost of upkeep is in the “thousands of dollars,” and he hopes that this fundraiser can provide most of that funding.

“A minimum of $5,000 is our fundraising goal. The maintenance varies, but we have to keep these in good condition,” he said. “Rotational pieces are the artist’s responsibility.”

Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said the sculptures all were funded through private donations, and the village has “worked tirelessly” with the Public Art Commission to curate and maintain the collection since its inception more than 20 years ago.

Cheney said Flossmoor’s sculptures constitutes a “world class collection.”

“Among others, we have a piece by Richard Hunt,” he said. “Rich