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Art pops up everywhere in Wheaton & Glen Ellyn, both towns that love beauty. Here is the story behind ten "hidden" pieces around the community. Look for these treasures as you journey about town this summer.
1. Business Meets Art
McChesney and Miller opened in 1862 and is DuPage County's oldest grocery store and is still owned by descendants of the original owners. The store has a large mural depicting the many changes the business has gone through painted by artist Tom Mahady. It is an artistic glimpse of the business which went from a log cabin to a modern building.
2. Lest We Not Forget
The sculpture"Over the Top to Victory" by artist John Paulding was cast in 1921 and installed and dedicated in Memorial Park in Wheaton in 1929 to honor the soldiers who fought in World War I. The statue was placed on a five ton granite boulder that was dragged to the site from Lisle. The doughboy statue was restored and rededicated in 2000.
3. Stained Glass Stands
the Test of Time
St. Michael's Catholic Church opened the doors to its first building in 1882. Since that time, the church has suffered two devastating fires but rose to rebuild each time. Three stained glass windows flank the east side of the sanctuary which were from the second building of the church. The window behind the baptismal font was rescued from the 2002 fire and refurbished to be used in the current building.
4. The Good Life Ahead
In 1997 a group of Glenbard West High School students joined with local folk artist Judy Higby to create a mural for the Glen Ellyn Metra Station. The students were involved in a substance-abuse prevention program and wanted to present a future world where there is no substance abuse. Higby outlined the drawings on 20 sheets of plywood and about 50 students worked to fill in the designs. The pieces were then combined to create a 164 square yard mural of a perfect future.
5. Art Honors a Hero
Inside the south entrance of the Beamer Center is a bas relief by artist Clay Enoch depicting Todd Beamer and his two sons. Todd, a graduate of Wheaton College, was among the passengers who died on United Flight 93 on 9/11. Todd is credited for starting the action to stop the terrorists with the words "Let's Roll."
6. Arts Heals a Broken Tree
Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital founded by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters has earned a reputation for its healing services. Several years ago, a tree on Marianjoy grounds was damaged in a storm. Instead of cutting down the tree, Sister Lynn Schafer carved the face of a woman and transformed the damaged tree into a work of art.
7. Art Adds to Education
"Rainbow Dancer" is a painted aluminum sculpture by artist Jerry Peart located on the south plaza of the Student Resource Center at College of DuPage. The colorful piece that evokes the feeling of dance was installed in 1982 and is part of the college's 376 piece permanent art collection that is valued at more than $1 million.
8. Showing the Joys of Reading
"Story Time II" is the title of the bronze sculpture by Gary Lee Price located outside of the east side of the Wheaton Public Library. Installed in 1998, the sculpture shows a boy deeply involved in his reading while a girl peers up from her book as if imagining what she will read next.
9. Art for a Living
During the depression, artists were commissioned to produce pieces and the Glen Ellyn post office was fortunate enough to receive one of these commissioned works. "Settlers" by Daniel Rhodes hangs in building at 528 Pennsylvania Ave.in Glen Ellyn and depicts seven pioneers building a cabin.
10. New Connects With Old
When Nick Zaris was opening his new Glen Ellen restaurant at 750 E. Roosevelt Road, he chose a historical name of Danby Station, the town's first train station. Local artist John Archer approached Zaris with an idea of creating a mural showing historical scenes from the town. The completed mural features the first train that came to town, Stacey's Tavern and other parts of historic Glen Ellyn.
-Judy Buchenot
