art Flossmoor

Homewood-Flossmoor High School Honorarium, 2016 (on display in front of the Flossmoor Public Library until 2019)

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The inspiration for this year’s student driven public sculpture developed from an in-class conversation about community.  In addition to being a social group whose members reside in a specific locality, share a government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage, our conversation relied heavily on community as a living organism; where change and growth are constantly occurring and embraced.

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The HF community, as we all know, is an amazing community that consists of history and tradition. However, change is constantly occurring around us with new technology, the addition of new members and the constant plans of improvement. It was pointed out that the idea of community is simplistic and natural, but it also can be complex, with constantly moving and changing parts. This naturally led us to the exploration of kinetic sculpture as a focus for this year’s project.

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Kinetic sculptures are figures that physically move. These sculptures consist of moving parts that are generally powered by wind, a motor or the observer. The aim of most kinetic sculpture is to make movement itself an integral part of the design, verses a static object. Constantly changing patterns become a relationship taking place through space and time which create an ever changing dialogue between the viewer and the space.

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Naturally we looked to internationally acclaimed artist Mark White as a source of inspiration. Mark originated from Illinois and currently works and resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a versatile artist who is best known for his wind and water driven kinetic sculpture. Mark is quoted as saying, “I strive to fill all my work with real and implied movement. I love learning and am always exploring my artistic boundaries, searching for the path less traveled.” It is this beautiful concept of the infinite possibilities of change which ties community, parallels the high school experience and drives the inspiration for this year’s HF high school’s public sculpture.

Faculty: Greg Petecki, Instructor and Joe Tullo, Welding Instructor