Bronze sculpture newest addition to Century Walk

November 10, 2003 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL) — Author: Courtney Cavanaugh

"I'd say it's very powerful, because it drives home the message of the need to conserve and Naperville's role in it," Brand Bobosky, president of the Century Walk Corporation, said about the newest Century Walk sculpture.

"Symbiotic Sojourn," a large bronze sculpture and fountain located at the end of the tunneled walkway in the Main Street Promenade on Van Buren Avenue and Main Street, created by artist Jeff Adams, was unveiled Nov. 1 as the 22nd piece of the Century Walk.

The sculpture features an elegant woman with a mane of hair flowing into the trees and foliage behind her, a little girl reaching up to the woman and the fractured earth behind her, and a little boy struggling to pull a wagon full of recyclable materials. A stream of water flows from the woman's hand into a pool of water below, lit from the bottom with lights, which cast the glowing reflection of water onto the sculpture.

A plaque near the sculpture states the creation was inspired by the activism of Barbara Ashley Sielaff and the establishment of the Naperville-area recycling center in 1973.

The plaque states the background of the sculpture represents commonly recycled materials, and "sheltered by the materials, a spirit of the earth figure emerges."

The young boy with the wagon "represents the humble beginnings of recycling," which was collecting cans. The young girl shows the relationship people need to have with the earth, which is beginning to "fracture." The girl holds the planet together, which shows "the symbiotic relationship we have with the earth and how conservation is an important part of that relationship."

Bobosky said he thought Adams did a great job on the sculpture, and the piece coincides with the Century Walk's mission, which is to create art that pays tribute to the community and events over the century.

He said the sculpture adds to the look of the Main Street Promenade.

"It's got to be one of the finest looking alleys in the state," he said.

Bobosky said Dwight and Ruth Yackley, the developers of the Main Street Promenade, paid all but $20,000 of the total cost of the piece, which was $128,000.

Ruth Yackley said the caliber and the design of the sculpture were worth the funding.

"It's a great piece," she said. "We thought it was worth the financial commitment."

She said she noticed that almost every person walking by the area stopped to come and look at the piece Sunday after the unveiling. She said the piece is appealing even from far away.

Yackley also said she hopes "Symbiotic Sojourn" will raise awareness about conservation. Kids learn about recycling in school and seeing the sculpture reinforces what they learn, she said.

"I can't say enough about how great it is," Yackley said.

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