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Flossmoor gets new sculpture for rotational art program

Flossmoor will have a new sculpture named “Orion” installed Sept. 4 on the traffic island at the intersection of Park Drive and Argyle Avenue.

The sculpture by Minnesota-born artist Sam Spiczka was recommended by the Flossmoor Public Art Commission and approved by the Flossmoor Village Board Aug. 19.

Assistant Village Manager Allison Matson said “Orion” will be part of Flossmoor’s rotational sculpture program for a period of three years.

 
 

  The sculpture “Orion” by
  Minnesota-born artist Sam
  Spiczka will be at the corner
  of Park Drive and Argyle Avenue
  for the next three years as
  part of Flossmoor’s sculpture
  rotational program.
 
(Photo courtesy of
  www.SculptorSam.com)
 

Flossmoor will have a new sculpture named “Orion” installed Sept. 4 on the traffic island at the intersection of Park Drive and Argyle Avenue.

The sculpture by Minnesota-born artist Sam Spiczka was recommended by the Flossmoor Public Art Commission and approved by the Flossmoor Village Board Aug. 19.

Assistant Village Manager Allison Matson said “Orion” will be part of Flossmoor’s rotational sculpture program for a period of three years.

“The way that we work our rotational sculpture program is we pay the artist an honorarium of $3,000,” she said. “With that the artist places the sculpture and comes to pick it up.”

Nancy Burrows, chairwoman of the Flossmoor Art Commission, said she and another commissioner went to view a Spiczka sculpture in Oak Park. He has a piece called “Threshold” at 825 S. Oak Park Ave. 

He also has a piece called “Like Clockwork” on permanent exhibit at the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, and he has had work displayed as far away as South Korea.

“We really thought this is a talented person whose artwork would fit in with many of our themes and yet be different enough from the existing sculptures,” Burrows said.

Burrows said Spiczka’s work is inspired by “natural bone forms, world technology and geometric sculpture.” 

“Orion” is one such sculpture that mimics natural bone shapes.

Spiczka became familiar with welding and metals in his family’s welding shop in rural Minnesota, she said.

“We really have been working hard to obtain diverse sculptures,” Burrows said. “This sculpture is very special.”

She added that “Orion” will be a good fit for the sculpture pad at Park Drive and Argyle Avenue because of its size and shape.  

“While it’s a fairly small corner, it needed something that would have a presence and yet would not block the view of traffic,” Burrows said.

Another plus for the village is that the sculpture will be installed just in time for Flossmoor Fest on Sept. 7, she said.

“It would be right before Flossmoor Fest, which would get it some actual traffic and would also be something that is enhancing the Flossmoor image,” Burrows said.

Mayor Paul Braun described the sculpture as “very skeletal looking” and said he would have guessed the artist had a medical background.

“It’s not my taste exactly, but I think it will be very conversational,” he said.
 

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