About the Sculpture Garden
Six sculptures were installed in Ronan Park in September of 2021. They reflect healing, peace and unity. The North River Commission sponsored the Ronan Park Sculpture Garden and worked in partnership with Chicago Sculpture International, the River Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Park District.
Ronan Park is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the city’s most diverse areas. Ronan Park is also proximite to the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, which is dedicated to remembering and healing.
The Ronan Park Sculpture Garden is a rotating exhibition with current sculptures scheduled to be in place for two years. If you are interested in supporting the Sculpture Garden, and further improvements to Ronan Park proposed in NRC's Confluence project, which envisions long term capital improvements to the area. Find out more here!
History
In 2011, NRC and community partners conceived of the Ronan Parks Multicultural Sculpture Park and Healing Garden. The original goals were to create a place to find beauty and inspiration, take refuge and find a safe haven for renewal and quiet meditation.
The Sculpture Garden rose out of dozens of community meetings over the course of more than a year. North River Commission, the Cambodian Association of Illinois, Northeastern Illinois University, and Lawrence Hall Youth Services were partners in the effort. As designed at the time Ronan Park would contain a sculpture park, healing gardens, a children’s garden, lotus garden, labyrinth, a new bike path that joins the North River Branch path, and a walking path shaped like the infinity symbol. Yoga classes and music programming were also envisioned for park visitors.
While Ronan Park is in the midst of a redesign through the Confluence project, the Sculpture Garden is being reinstalled in Fall of 2021.
The Sculptures
Overseer
16’ x 3’ x 3’, cast bronze and cast aluminum
"I was inspired to create this sculpture Overseer after attending a performance of butoh, a Japanese style of dance. The dancers, almost nude, paint their bodies white and move gracefully and slowly across the stage. I was stunned by how the form of the body, once the color was obscured, become so universal—a temple for healing and meditation. My model was an African American young woman who became the subject of various sculptures. Standing atop a large tree trunk, a metaphor for tradition and strength, she seems to be ascending into the sky through a gesture of rebirth and transformation." - Dora Natella
Beacon
100" x 36" x 36", bronze, aluminum, granite base
In Beacon, a profile of a child’s face represents the flame of a candle. The base of the sculpture forms the stylized candle and the child’s face rises from it, driving out the darkness with their light. The hard, bronze material is designed to form a light, wispy profile almost blowing in the wind. The sculpture is inspired by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Ephemeral, Immortal
11’ x 13’ x 10’, stainless steel, copper, fiberglass tape, concrete, glass mosaic, blown glass, safety glass
The sculpture celebrates life, being both ephemeral and immortal. In all cultures since the dawn of humanity dragonflies are featured in art, literature, folklore and myths. They represent positive change, adaptability, transformation and hope for all creatures to coexist in an enlightened world. Their sensitivity to habitat quality and their amphibious life cycle make dragonflies indicators of clean water and healthy ecosystems, well suited for evaluating environmental changes.
Happy Family
102” x 46” x 45”, Steel and Fiberglass
"My personal experience determines the diversity in my work. Both living and studying in China and the United States have had a profound impact on my work and philosophy. My sculptures combine traditional and non-traditional elements to explore the relationship between nature and humanity. However, I am also concerned about the cultural differences between the East and the West. I hope that my sculptures can break these barriers and differences, so that the audience can experience more of the connection between man and nature, and deepen mutual understanding and tolerance." - Shencheng Xu
Ten Thousand Ripples
three emerging Buddha sculptures
Cast fiberglass and resin
Each sculpture 28.5” x 28.5” x 28.5”
"For some years now I have used the image of an emerging Buddha as a universal symbol of spiritual enlightenment. I believe that there is a powerful and profound need to know that peace is possible in spite of the violence that surrounds us on so many different fronts. We need to be reminded and reassured that we can find peace within ourselves and with our neighbors. Ten Thousand Ripples is that reminder. It invokes the image of an emerging Buddha as a universal icon of peace and spirituality inviting people to think about how they can find peace in their own lives and their communities." - Indira Johnson
Metro and Orbit
Metro (97” x 45” x 34”), Orbit (60” x 22” x 41”), Welded steel
"My piece relates to healing by way of happiness. I created this piece intending to make people smile and feel good. I believe that anybody would be able to relate to Metro and Orbit. These two are “helper robots,” and I think every culture would want to go on an adventure with them." - Todd Willing
Thank you to our Ronan Park Sculpture Garden Partners & Supporters!
Chicago Sculpture International
River Park Advisory Council & Chicago Park District
National Cambodian Heritage Museum
and Killing Fields Memorial
