Summer is officially in full swing, and with it comes Naperville’s annual sculptures to be scattered throughout the downtown area. This year’s theme is Sailing into Summer. As a result, 14 beautiful sailboat sculptures have been scattered across the downtown area.
With the exception of last year, the DNA, or Downtown Naperville Alliance, has been orchestrating the creation of sculptures to enrich our downtown area since 2012. As a resident, my favorite sculpture theme was the trains of 2014 for several reasons.
Firstly, the art was inspired and in conjunction with “Tragedy to Triumph,” the Century Walk sculpture by the train station that honors a train wreck in 1946. The wreck occurred right after the ending of World War II, and as a result, some of the passengers who were injured or killed during the accident were men returning after the war. The artwork not only helped us remember the terrible tragedy, but also commemorates those who came together to support those in need.
In addition to their powerful message, the miniature sculptures are my favorite because at the beginning of my 5th grade year, one was placed in the library of my elementary school, May Watts. Each year, the sculptures from the previous year are returned to their sponsors and are often donated. This seemingly small act of kindness carried a large impact on myself and other young students, and helped create some fond memories of elementary school.
Although there are maps containing the locations of this year’s sailboats, I went hunting without one and found nine properly and hope to sniff out the rest before summer ends. Each one is handmade, beautifully painted, and a wonderful addition to Downtown Naperville.
