The Urbana Park District has recently purchased two sculptures, After Giverny and The Gifting Angel by Jon Isherwood for permanent display at Meadowbrook Park. Private donations in honor of the retirement of Tim Bartlett, Executive Director, to the Urbana Parks Foundation Robin Hall Fund for Public Art facilitated the purchase.
“Typically, artists loan the park district their works of art for temporary display. Initially, the works are on display for two years, and may be renewed several times, but the artist owns it and they can take it back whenever the agreement with the park district expires,” explained Kelsey Beccue, Development Manager. “Our newly established Robin Hall Fund for Public Art, named in honor of the former park district executive director, will help us purchase works of art for our permanent collection, sustain the sculpture loan program, and support the many other public arts initiatives across the district, Youth Summer Theatre and Jazz Walk,” continued Beccue.
A recent donation to the Robin Hall Fund from Chris and Jane Scherer allowed the foundation to purchase the sculptures Yikes and Water. Those previously loaned sculptures are on display at the Wandell Sculpture Garden and Crystal Lake Park, respectively. Other private donations over the last few years allowed the park district to permanently acquire Two in the Hand, Continuum, Mr. Big Beetle Finds His Way, and Molecular Reflection. A total of 47 sculptures are presently on display throughout the Urbana Park District, with 38 at Meadowbrook Park.
Urbana Park District Executive Director Rachel Lenz commented, “Public art enriches our community by sparking creativity and connection, and we are grateful for the generosity of our donors who make it possible for us to grow and showcase our permanent collection. These sculptures not only beautify our spaces but also serve as a reminder of the lasting impact art has on our collective cultural experience. We are excited to share these works with the community and continue honoring the legacy of Robin Hall through this fund.”
People can see many of these sculptures up close at the Urbana Park District Jazz Walk on September 12. For more information about the Robin Hall Fund or to donate to it, please call Beccue at (217) 367-1536.
