Public Art

The garden unveiled a new addition this week: a bronze cast sculpture by Bloomington's Herb Eaton that nods to the Twin Cities' circus roots.

The fitness court was developed to expand free access to workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities. LeRoy alderwoman Kelly Lay was a key part of developing the park.

Pontiac's Diaz Sign Art created a custom mural for Sprague's Super Service commemorating significant landmarks in the Town of Normal: the Normal Theater and Steak and Shake. It will be officially unveiled Friday, ahead of a 1950s-themed celebration as part of the Cruisin' through the Century Route 66 Centennial.

The Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Capital Development Board have partnered to commission a public art piece for display at the new Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts complex. It’s part of a larger push for public art in Bloomington-Normal that will now include a major opportunity on Illinois State University’s campus for an Illinois artist.

There will be no movement on E-scooter regulations in the Town of Normal in the immediate future.

A set of 15 temporary sidewalk murals will be installed for the 2025 farmers' market season, aimed at beautification and pedestrian safety in downtown Bloomington.

An independent federal agency will provide the Town of Normal with grant funding to support the design and installation of a mural in the forthcoming Uptown Connector/Underpass tunnel.

For more than a year, the City of Bloomington has been looking into a new streetscape plan. It's a potential $30 million "generational" project that would replace aging under-and-above-ground infrastructure. Staff have said the effort is about far more than beautification.

An overwhelming majority of Normalites say they're all in for public art. Results of a survey distributed in May indicated 85% of people who live, work or play in Normal support public dollars going toward public art.

We caught up with Kasey Wells, a Lexington scrap metal artist who campaigned for president in 2020 toting a large scrap metal elephant sculpture around the U.S.