The Village of Algonquin launched a public art initiative in 2005 with
the purpose of enhancing the community’s sense of place through a
celebration of art. The village’s board of trustees adopted a Public
Art Master Plan in April 2005 and the Algonquin Public Arts Commission
was established later that year to implement the plan and develop an
annual display program.
For the past three years, the Algonquin Public Arts Commission has
solicited local and national artists to temporarily loan original
artworks for a one-year period. Each summer, the commission reviews a
new group of artwork submittals based upon selection criteria outlined
in the 2005 Public Art Master Plan. In the program’s first two years,
approximately 30 artworks in a variety of different media (e.g.,
paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs) were exhibited at a
dozen indoor and outdoor locations throughout the community. The
individual artworks have ranged significantly in their content, and
past displays have included a 25-foot long toothpick replica of the
Queen Mary oceanliner, a 250-pound metal and concrete bison sculpture,
and a 130-square foot canvas collage titled “True Love”.
Overall, the Algonquin Public Art Program has been quite
successful; in addition to gaining considerable media exposure the
program was honored to receive a 2006 ILAPA Silver Award for special
community initiative. The village is currently soliciting artwork
loans for display during the program’s third year and it is hoped that
the ongoing placement of art in public places will continue to
complement the visual experience that is the cornerstone of
Algonquin’s identity.
Additional information about the Algonquin Public Art Program,
including a slideshow and complete copy of the master plan is
available online on the village’s community development department
page at http://www.algonquin.org.
