Music-themed sculpture gets spot
NORMAL, — A stew pot, spare tire cover, part of a clothes dryer drum, handles from a hospital bed and dozens of other discarded stainless steel items have been transformed into a sculpture that soon will have a prominent place in uptown Normal.
The 16-foot wide, 9-foot tall artwork, “A Gift of Music,” was created by Twin City artist Herb Eaton and will lead into a new courtyard under construction between Emack and Bolio’s ice cream shop and the Children’s Discovery Museum.
“It is phenomenal,” said Harry Fuller, who owns the property and commissioned Eaton to create the piece. “We want to create an environment outside that welcomes and encourages pedestrian traffic inside and outside of Emack and Bolio’s.”
The courtyard will include an area covered with colorful sails imported from New Zealand, Fuller said. The space can be used for dining or for a stage for bands to perform.
“It will be a non-alcoholic music venue,” Fuller said.
The kickoff will happen during this year’s annual Emack and Bolio’s Fest April 28.
Eaton and Fuller had talked about the archway for a long time. The courtyard project has been planned since Fuller announced renovation plans at 105-111 E. Beaufort St. in 2004-05.
“The space is a celebratory space,” Eaton said. “People expect something friendly . it’s next to the Children’s Discovery Museum and I’m one of the founders. It’s such a neat idea: A place where little children and adults can go.”
Eaton said the arch represents two music boxes “exploding” the music inside. It’s a concept he’s done in smaller pieces.
One box contains wind instruments such as a trumpet and saxophone; the other, percussion, including a drum and piano keyboard. The arch also has a large bass and guitar, and a music stand near the piano keyboard.
A trombone forms the arch, connecting the boxes. “I’m a jazz player; a trombone player,” Eaton said, “so it gets a primary place.”
Along the curve of the arch are mouths. Eaton went to Morris Tick, a Bloomington scrap company, to pick stainless steel and found something that had been badly beaten by its owner. He couldn’t tell what it once was, but after looking at it for a long period of time, he envisioned the shape of a mouth.
Eaton’s wife, Pamala, hopes the sculpture is used to prompt scavenger hunts for kids, who would be asked to find certain items within the piece.
The arch will sit on two brick columns under construction near the sidewalk. Wrought iron will flank the entryway and decorative pavers will be installed inside the courtyard.
Fuller plans to add fixed benches and movable tables inside the courtyard.
The courtyard plan was approved by the Uptown Design Review Commission in August.
“The commission was thrilled when they saw the proposal,” said Town Planner Mercy Davison. “They are familiar with Herb’s work and trusted it would be something fantastic — and it is. It’s like a great big present for uptown Normal.”