Sculpture by internationally known artist Jaume Plensa to be placed in Atwater Park

By Mary Louise Schumacher of the Journal Sentinel

July 16, 2009 

Shorewood's Atwater Park will soon be the site of a public sculpture by one of the world's most respected public artists, Jaume Plensa, known particularly for his interactive Crown Fountain in Chicago's Millennium Park.

The purchase and installation of the 8-foot tall public artwork (shown, right, in a gallery space), made from stainless steel letters, is being made possible thanks to an unsolicited gift from an anonymous donor. The Village of Shorewood Board of Trustees accepted the gift at its Monday night meeting when the relatively new Public Art Committee, a subcommittee of the Community Development Authority and Public Improvements Committee, presented the opportunity to the full board.

The gift will pay for the purchase, shipment, installation and base for the new artwork at Atwater Park, located at the eastern end of Capitol Drive along the shore of Lake Michigan. The cost of the project is being kept confidential. Additional fundraising is underway for site development, landscaping, lighting and long-term maintenance.

Russell Bowman, an art consultant in Chicago and the former director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, assisted the committee with the selection process. The work of nearly 100 artists was considered, and Plensa was chosen from among 15 finalists.

Plensa, a Spanish-born artist, is perhaps best known for his Millennium Park piece (left), which includes two 50-foot glass towers with a shallow reflecting pool connecting them. The artwork features the faces of Chicagoans, who pucker up and appear to be spitting water when the fountain flows. Plensa also has created works in cities throughout the world, including in Paris and London. His work is included in the collections of more than 65 museums.

"This wonderful gift has given us an unprecedented and extraordinary opportunity to enhance the quality of life for the citizen’s of Shorewood," said village president Guy Johnson in a press statement. "We are eagerly looking forward to the completion of this unique project.”

The donor views the project as an ideal opportunity to launch a long-term, village-wide public art program in Shorewood. The artwork will be installed in the fall or early next spring.