Sculpture Trail
Historical sculpture has been on public display in Oregon since the time of Lorado Taft and the Eagle’s Nest Art Colony in the early 1900’s. The Community Art Legacy (C.A.L.) has been a contemporary project which added award winning public sculpture through-out town since 2004. These pieces were chosen from an annual competition. Costs of the project were supported by contributions community members and businesses; with casting completed by inBronze in Mt. Morris, IL. In 2011 C.A.L. created a brochure to provide the public with an easy to follow descriptive trail for viewing the public sculpture in Oregon. Since then, the final 3 of 10 sculptures have been completed and a new brochure is being developed. The Final piece is of John Phelps, the founder of Oregon, arriving at this location in 1833. It is on display in a landscaped setting on the west side of the Oregon Coliseum.
Download the map and brochure.
Sculptures Trail includes:
The statue called Black Hawk was by Lorado Taft, 1911, in concrete, and can be seen from Rte. 2 across the Rock River and at Lowden State Park.
The Holy Family is by David Seagrave, 1991, in Indiana Limestone. It is located at St. Mary’s Church, on N. Fourth Street.
The Soldiers’ Monument, by Lorado Taft, dedicated in 1916, is located on the Court House square. The center fi gure is of bronze and the two adjacent soldier statues of marble. This honors veterans from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, War of 1812, Mexican War and World War I.
The Blind is a maquette of a sculpture by Lorado Taft, located at the University of Illinois. This is representative of the Eagles Nest Art Colony Collection, seen at the Oregon Public Library.
The Fish Boys, at Mix Park south on Route 2 are cast in a special blend of concrete of the original bronze sculptures by Lorado Taft, 1913, which are south of Chicago Art Institute.
Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of Fate, by Oregon sculptor, Jeff Adams, 2002, is located at Mix Park. It refl ects on the crossing of the paths of Lincoln and Blackhawk and the struggles in this area in 1832.
From the Waters Comes My Bounty, by Ray Kobald, 2005, is located at Kiwanis Park at the west end of the dam of the Rock River. It depicts the generosity of the life-giving waters to all things.
Agriculture, Mother of Civilization, by David Seagraves, 2006, is located at the Judicial Center, west of the Court House. She personifi es the fertility of the earth and Ogle County.
Cornball, by Howard Russo, 2007, is located at the Coliseum, north of the Court House. It represents the increased global impact of corn to the world.
The Bountiful Bench, by Christina Murphy, 2008, graces the lawn of the Oregon Public Library. Inspired by the beauty of the Rock River, the woman of nature and her coverlet hold the produce and natural bounty of the area.
Solar Reef, by Andrew Langoussis, 2009, is at the top of the hill at Oregon Park West. It represents the sun, the source of all energy, and through it can be seen the Court House and Oregon.
Makin’ Hay, by Daniel Ingebritson, 2010, is at Stillman Bank, north on Rte. 2, and captures the dynamic movement of the farmer’s strokes of the scythe through the hay.
Harvest Hunter, by Matthew Donavon, 2011, depicts an owl framed by a harvest moon.
John the Baptist, by Jeff Adams, 2008, is located at Lutheran Outdoors Ministries south of Oregon on Rte. 2. John the Baptists is pointing to the One inviting us to come to the wilderness.
