Cultural Arts Director Beth Whisman and McLean County Arts Center Executive Director Doug Johnson outlined the public art planning process, explained the selection criteria and shared the long-term vision for the sculpture park.
Normal Town Council approves four new public sculptures
Written by Bella Marello on October 22, 2025
NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal Town Council met Monday evening for a brief but impactful session, unanimously approving a $69,750 contract to purchase and install four permanent sculptures at the upcoming One Normal Plaza Sculpture Park.
The resolution authorizes the acquisition of works from four Illinois-based artists, marking a significant step in the town’s ongoing commitment to public art and cultural development.
“This is the first time the town has done something to quite this scale for sculpture,” Whisman said.
The selected works include “In and Out of the Blue,” a low, concrete structure by Dann Nardi of Normal that encourages public interaction, “World,” a colorful stained-glass style sculpture that has previously been displayed outdoors in Chicago, a large metal bird sculpture standing nearly nine feet tall and “Happy Happy Happy,” a narrative metalwork piece by Sugar Creek Arts Festival artist Jeremy Burdette.
Johnson showed his support for Nardi’s piece.
“To have work of this caliber from a local artist that, as Beth said, is in the neighborhood, it’s really terrific,” Johnson said. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase this work for generations.”
Whisman emphasized the significance of the site itself, noting the area once served as a gathering space for children who lived at the Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s School (ISSCS). The group consulted local historians and former residents of the children’s home to ensure that the installations would respect the location’s heritage.
The sculptures are expected to be installed in spring 2026, just in time for Normal’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration, which will take place at One Normal Plaza. The installation will include educational signage and a public engagement opportunity when artists are present for installation.
Whisman said that the art pieces were chosen with durability in mind.
“None of the materials we selected need special care,” Whisman said. “They’re what the roads are made from there, what playground equipment are made from? There are evidence pieces all over the community that show that they can take wear and tear.”
A care plan will be included in each artist’s contract, and the town’s Parks and Recreation Department was involved throughout the selection process to assess long-term maintenance needs.
The resolution passed unanimously, with council members offering praise for the selection process and the artworks themselves.
Council member Kevin McCarthy recently visited Holland, Mich., a city with a central business district that has heavily invested in art. He highlighted the positive impact art has had on the area and voiced strong support for the resolution.
“They said that is the busiest place where people who come here hang out, and it’s everybody takes pictures there, and it’s all the shop owners love it, and we all kind of look after it and take care of it,” McCarthy said. “I think our community is paying attention to this, and there’s a good support here for this, and I’m happy for that.”
Council member Kathleen Lorenz asked Whisman and Johnson to elaborate on the business case for using municipal funds for art projects, especially with other competing needs like infrastructure and public safety.
Johnson answered this question.
“The same money that could go into fixing a curve can be recouped from the attracting businesses to our community, attracting people that can say this is a place that they want to live because of the investment in cultural enterprise,” Johnson said.
Demolition and site prep are already underway at One Normal Plaza, and specialty paving is expected to begin soon. The full installation, along with complementary landscaping and signage, will be completed in phases.
A future public art leasing program was also discussed, where sculptures could rotate every few years, an idea supported by several council members to keep the site fresh and engaging.
The Normal Town Council meets every first and third Monday of each month. The next meeting will take place Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. on the fourth floor of Normal City Hall.
