The City of Joliet is asking its residents to participate in a different kind of election and to cast their vote by Friday, August 9, 2024.
This vote is so the city can determine which art sculpture will be placed in the new City Square, a 1.3-acre urban park is being constructed directly across from the Rialto Square Theatre. The plans for the new downtown City Square were recently approved by City Council with the project to begin construction at the end of the summer. The Square is scheduled for completion by late 2025.
As part of the initiative, residents are invited to participate in selecting a centerpiece sculpture through a unique voting process.
The City of Joliet and the Joliet Arts Commission issued a national call for artists to submit a proposal for a unique sculpture to be installed in the center of the proposed project. Initially, fifty artists submitted proposals for the sculpture. An internal review committee, comprising members from the Arts Commission and city staff, evaluated these submissions based on criteria such as innovation, uniqueness, and visual impact. From this rigorous process, fourteen designs were selected as sub-finalists.
Ray Heitner, who serves as the staff liaison to the Arts Commission, noted that the reduction in options was aimed at presenting residents with the best choices to vote on. “The internal review committee evaluated the submissions based on the established criteria and narrowed the list,” Heitner said. “Residents may now choose from the very best designs to get a finalist.”
As of Monday July 22, 2024, residents can go to www.joliet.gov/cityquare/sculpture to cast a vote on their favorite sculpture design and online voting will end on Friday August 9th, 2024.
Residents may also vote in person at the downtown Joliet Public Library located at 150 N. Ottawa Street beginning Tuesday August 6th, Wednesday August 7th, and Thursday August 8th from 3 pm to 7 pm. Enlarged images of the sculpture proposals will be placed at the library for public viewing.
Following the resident voting phase, up to five finalists will be chosen to develop detailed conceptual proposals. These finalists will present their proposals to the Joliet Arts Commission at a special meeting in September. The Arts Commission will then recommend a final sculpture design to the Joliet City Council for approval by late 2024.
The allocated budget for the sculpture project, covering design, fabrication, and installation, is set at a maximum of $200,000. This initiative not only aims to beautify City Square but also encourages community engagement and pride in shaping the city’s cultural landscape. For more information about the project, visit the City’s website at Joliet.gov.
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