September was the wrap-up of the Sculpture in the Park Exhibit at Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles, Ill. The exhibit is an annual event allowing citizens to view the beauty of artwork in the park environment.

The event was created to raise awareness of the sculptural arts and the beautiful parks in downtown St. Charles. The display opened in May.

The sculptures were set along the park pathways and many reflected a rural theme in this historic town located along the Fox River. Examples of some of the rural landscape  sculptures included “Prairie Winds” and “Sunflower” by Fitz Olsen from Sawyer, Mich.
Some sculptures reflected a fun-filled aspect of art, such as the bronze frog titled “I’ve Been Kissed” by Pokey Park from Tucson, Ariz., and “High Hopes II,” a bronze sculpture of a little girl ready to play ball. “High Hopes II” was sculpted by Georgene McGonagle from Denver, Colo.

Two other sculptures that caught the imagination were the lovely sculpture “Maize Giant” by Patricia Brutchin from Lake in the Hills, Ill., and the Indian bronze sculpture “Muejer Con Olla” by local Ray Kobald, of St. Charles. While many sculptures were on sale and temporarily at the park, others are permanently on exhibit, like “Natural Wonders” – a bronze of a boy with a telescope on the back of a turtle. This sculpture was dedicated in June 2009 and was purchased by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and the St. Charles Park District.

Not far from the cultivated beauty of the park filled with flowers and sculptures was the in-your-face art of the building that houses the Mexican restaurant, the Jalapeno Grille. The artist is Joe (Francis Joseph Gagnepain IV) who lives in Geneva, Ill.

His website www.artbyjoseph.com shares, “Joe is a lifelong artist, making art in multiple mediums (sic) for multiple clients: schools, cities, businesses, personal and more. Joe is always up for a challenge and is constantly exploring new mediums.”
There are many beautiful architectural aspects in St. Charles – including the bridge over the Fox River, the Art Deco-like Baker Hotel and much more. Mt. St. Mary Park is located on Route 31 and Prairie Street. Visit www.st-charlesparks.org/special-events/sculpture-in-the-park.asp for details.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.