'Centennial' for the centennial

For more than 20 years, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School students and teachers have been creating public sculptures and installing them around the school's sprawling campus. In 2013, these efforts expanded into downtown Flossmoor with the installation of the students' piece, Bell Tower, on the lawn of the Flossmoor Public Library. Now more than 10 years later, students have installed a special sculpture in that same location commemorating Flossmoor's 100th birthday in 2024, entitled Centennial.

"Inspired by centennial celebrations and a tribute to late artist Claes Oldenburg, this sculpture embodies the timeless elegance of a diamond and celebrates Flossmoor as a hidden gem," says Greg Petecki, artist and H-F High School Art teacher.

The 7-ft. metal, diamond-shaped, powder-coated sculpture was made as a rotational piece for the Village of Flossmoor's public art collection, managed by the Flossmoor Public Art Commission.

"Centennial is a sculpture that represents more than a piece of art - it was an opportunity for students to see a piece through from design to exhibition," says Mike Cheney, artist and Flossmoor Public Art commissioner. "The Village was very lucky to have a great talent leading the students on this piece for our world-class sculpture collection: Greg Petecki, who has been recognized as a Secondary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association."

Petecki's students were inspired by the work of Oldenburg, an artist famous for his monumental sculptures of everyday objects, such as his Spoonbridge and Cherry in Minneapolis and Batcolumn in Chicago. The team wanted to choose an everyday object that would signify 100 years and that would also be a nod to Flossmoor, often touted as a "hidden gem" in Chicago's Southland.

"This larger-than-life piece reflects our community's spirit and showcases the importance of teamwork and diverse skills in turning creative ideas into reality," says Petecki. "It's a valuable learning experience for our students, preparing them for success in the 21st century."

H-F 3D Art students - Riley Curtis, De'Asia Matticx, Mars Randle and Charlotte Symowicz - paired with students in the school's Welding classes - Chase Kral, Jacob Quirke and Brayden Reid - to create the piece over the course of a year under the director of their teachers, Petecki and Bill Merchantz, a Career & Technical Education teacher.

The sculpture is an example of true collaboration: The high school provided the creativity and art production; the Village of Flossmoor and Public Art Commission provided inspiration, guidance and the preparation of the sculpture pad; the Flossmoor Public Library provided the location; and organizers behind the Hidden Gem Half Marathon - a 13.1-mile road race that is run in Flossmoor - (known as Flossmoor's Future) provided funding as a gift to the community.

"When we heard about the sculpture project by the H-F students, we just knew we had to be a part of it," says Tom Dobrez, co-race organizer. "This delightful work of art is one more reflection of the Gem effect, where a special event, such as the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, has helped spread pockets of hope and renewal all around Flossmoor. For example, the creation of the Centennial sculpture is something that seems to connect us together in a beautiful way."

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