Hazel Crest Beautification Commission Open Lands Arboretum "Art in the Woods"

"Art is Business"  

About

The Beautification Commission's "Art in the Woods" project at the Open Lands Arboretum is an exciting initiative that aims to transform our community's landscape by integrating art with nature. This project encourages residents to participate in every step, from the design process to the installation of a captivating collection of sculptures. These artworks will serve not only as visual focal points but also as catalysts for fostering connections during community gatherings. Our goal is to create a lively space that promotes interactive and engaging experiences, immersing community members in both art and nature.

Open Lands Arboretum invites you to the “Oaks and Folks Gala,” a celebration dedicating two nature-based sculptures commissioned by the Village of Hazel Crest. 

The 14-foot-tall Cloudburst metal Sculpture and the 10-foot-tall Hazel Nut Arch sculpture will make their much-anticipated debut to the public.  

Each sculpture incorporates elements inspired by the region’s natural beauty.  These artworks will serve as visual focal points and catalysts for connection in future community gatherings.

The sculptures mark the start of the Hazel Crest Beautification Commission Open Lands Arboretum "Art in the Woods" placemaking project, an exciting effort to transform our community's landscape by blending art with nature.

10-foot-tall Hazel Nut Arch sculpture

HAZEL NUT ARCH is a 10’-tall tree sculpture that incorporates Siberian Elms that grew in the arboretum and carved wood elements created in the artist’s studio, representing a human figure and aspects of the hazelnut shrub.  Artist Christine Perri is a wood sculptor whose work can be found in Chicago parks and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. 

Christine Perri, embellishing a wood sculpture seating element near Hazel Nut Arch

The 14-foot-tall Cloudburst metal Sculpture

Peter N. Gray Installation Day, October 1, 2025

CLOUDBURST is a 14’-tall metal sculpture in bright primary colors depicting three towers of raindrops emanating from three clouds onto the Open Lands CLOUDBURST is a 14’-tall metal sculpture in bright primary colors depicting three towers of raindrops emanating from three clouds onto the Open Lands Arboretum.  Artist Peter N. Gray owns Metal-i-Genics Studio, which creates designs and fabricates steel interior and exterior design elements, furniture, and sculpture for commercial and residential properties.  His large-scale public sculptures are in permanent collections of sculpture parks, public schools and colleges, and a CTA subway station.

Artist Peter N. Gray owns Metal-i-Genics Studio, which creates designs and fabricates steel interior and exterior design elements, furniture, and sculpture for commercial and residential properties.  His large-scale public sculptures are in permanent collections of sculpture parks, public schools and colleges, and a CTA subway station. 

FLORIN ROAD ART WALK

"Art is Business"florinroadcommunitybeautificationproject.org

Welcome to the Florin Road Art Walk!

Discover a community of art, culture, and holiday cheer on December 21st, 2024.

Next, visit Florin Square at 2251 Florin from 12 to 6 p.m. for the December African Market Place. Florin Square and the surrounding properties are now home to 16 massive sculptures and more than 1500 square feet of murals, made possible by the Florin Road Community Beautification Project.

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to discover new artwork, connect with fellow art lovers, and enjoy a day of winter cheer. See you there!

Learn More about the Florin Road Community Beautification Project at 

  

Streets as Places Toolkit

"Art is Business" https://www.pps.org/article/uses-activities

Like a few other places, streets are a public stage where life unfolds. From town parades and trick-or-treating to markets and public gatherings, they celebrate and come together with our neighbors. They're where we bump into friends and one of the few places where we routinely encounter people different from ourselves. They're where people have gathered to protest injustice for centuries. That's why Project for Public Spaces has advocated that streets are more than just a means of mobility. Streets are critical public spaces that can enrich our communities' social, civic, and economic fabric.

Resources

1. PRINCIPLES

2. ACTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS

3. ACTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES

4. ACTIONS FOR GOVERNMENT

5. A PLACE MAKER'S PRIMER ON ROAD DIETS

6. STREETS AS PLACES ACTION PACK

What are Streets as Places?

Donald Appleyard may have said it best: "Streets have been where children first learned about the world, where neighbors met, the social centers of towns and cities, the rallying points for revolts, the scenes of repression." Streets showcase the lives of our communities, and being exposed to the good and bad of the world on our roads can make us more compassionate, empathetic, and connected citizens.

Of course, an essential function of streets is facilitating travel from one place to another. But many of the roads in our communities - especially those in our downtowns, Main Streets, and residential areas - can be so much more than just a conduit for traffic. Streets as Places is about helping people begin to see streets in their entirety: not just their function in transporting people and goods but their vital role in animating communities' social and economic life. It's about communities owning and reclaiming their streets, participating in civic life, and directly impacting how their public spaces look, function, and feel.

Streets typically represent the largest area of public space a community has - for example, Chicago's streets and sidewalks represent 24 percent of the city's land area and over 70 percent of City-owned public open space. We also spend tremendous money to build and maintain our street and highway networks - $155 billion a year between federal, state, and local funding sources. Shouldn't we be getting the most we can from these investments?

Designing streets that function as great places is more than just a "nice" thing to do. As Peter Kageyama, founder of the Creative Cities Summit, explains: "No longer is it sufficient to build places that are merely functional and safe. Our placemaking aspirations must be as high and grand as our economic goals because they are bound together." In an age when people are more mobile than ever, and cities and businesses compete to attract talent, great streets are essential to boosting economic development and tourism.

That Project for Public Spaces developed, where streets become part of a network that links a city's best assets and places together, making them easily accessible. At a local scale, which could encompass several blocks in a distinct neighborhood, Streets as Places have 10 or more essential destinations, while each of those individual places has many things to do. The Power of 10 speaks to the importance of layering multiple activities. It uses together - opportunities to sit and relax, eat, socialize, recreate, shop, and so on - to create dynamic streets that attract many people and encourage them to spend time there.

Gathering Spaces an Intersection Between Cultural and Nature 02/29 by Phantom Gallery Chicago Network | Visual Arts Podcasts

Gathering Spaces: An Intersection Between Cultural and Nature 02/29 by Phantom Gallery Chicago Network | Visual Arts Podcasts:

The wildlife corridor along the lakefront showcases the beauty and importance of the surrounding natural habitat. It serves as a space for reflection and cultural exchange within the community. This idea of looking back and reclaiming what is essential for a sustainable future aligns with the mission of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor Curatorial Committee, the Chicago Park District, and The Field Museum in their efforts to restore these natural habitats..

As a new resurgence of art and culture continues to emerge in Bronzeville, the creation of the?Sankofa for the Earth? The site will become a signature moment that symbolizes a new renaissance of creativity and community arts engagement on the south side.

Today's Creative Conversation is with Arlene Turner Crawford, who is serving as Project Manager, overseeing planning timetables, logistics, and budget; Park District & Field Museum liaison; painter, mosaic artist.

Dorian Sylvain, Design Manager, is responsible for providing technical drawings and plans, designing layouts, and supervising the installation team as a painter and mosaic artist.

Raymond A. Thomas, Construction Manager, oversees the construction of sculptural components and serves as a liaison with community organizations and youth volunteers. He is also an IT specialist, painter, mosaic artist, and supervisor for the installation team.

Investigation: What does it mean to exhibit in temporary installation spaces outside of museums? What are the unanticipated impacts? Why are functionality and beauty key concepts in your proposed work, **Gathering Spaces: An Intersection Between Culture and Nature?

The wildlife corridor along the lakefront highlights the beauty and importance of the surrounding natural habitat. It serves as a space for reflection and cultural exchange within the community. This concept of looking back and reclaiming essential elements for a sustainable future aligns with the mission of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor Curatorial Committee, the Chicago Park District, and The Field Museum in their efforts to restore these natural habitats.

As a new resurgence of art and culture continues to emerge in Bronzeville, the creation of "Sankofa for the Earth" will symbolize a significant moment of creativity and community arts engagement on the South Side.

Today’s creative conversation features Arlene Turner Crawford, who serves as Project Manager. She oversees planning timelines, logistics, and budgets and acts as the liaison between the Park District and The Field Museum. She is also a painter and mosaic artist.

Dorian Sylvain, the Design Manager, provides technical drawings and plans, design layouts, and oversees the installation team. He is also a painter and mosaic artist.

Raymond A. Thomas, the Construction Manager, supervises the building of sculptural components, acts as the liaison for community organizations and youth volunteers, and is an IT specialist, painter, mosaic artist, and part of the installation supervision team.

**Investigation**: What does it mean to exhibit in temporary installation spaces outside the museum? What are the unanticipated impacts? Why are the concepts of functionality and beauty major principles in your proposed work?