Park Board gives nod to sawmill sculpture aid

September 15, 2014 — Source: Naperville Sun — Author: David Sharos

Naperville Park Board members approved a Knoch Knolls sculpture partnership agreement with the Century Walk Corporation this past week, which will help offset the cost of the new Knoch Knolls sawmill sculpture now greeting visitors as they enter the nature center that will be formally dedicated next month.

Community development manager Sue Omanson said plans to create the sculpture of the 1830s sawmill were launched earlier this spring with the corporation, which commissioned artist Lucy Slivinski of Chicago to create the artwork.

“We appreciate the Century Walk’s interest in highlighting this piece of history through public art,” Omanson said. “The mill sculpture will do just that, as visitors will actually walk through it as they come to the center. It’s not an exact replica, but it has a lot of the original elements in it. This was an important piece of history back then and it made a difference in the lives of the settlers that came here.”

The agreement calls for the corporation to pay $30,000 for costs related to the design, fabrication and installation of the sculpture, which includes the metal sculpture itself and its base, an interpretive sign, and landscaping. Total payment is due by Dec. 31, 2016.

Brand Bobosky , president of the Century Walk Corporation, said the organization tries to add up to three pieces of art per year and that the sawmill is the 47th piece of public art that has been added to the area.

“This was the first sawmill in town here in Will County and we’re paying close to half the cost which was around $64,000,” Bobosky said. “We’ve been helping to create public art now for 19 years.”

Bobosky said funds for the sawmill and other projects come from money received from the Illinois Art Council as well as from the Naperville Special Events and Cultural Amenities fund and donors.