Additional Information

Jack had the idea of combining his love for spray painting and sketching with building an image. “Jungle Dusk” was created by cutting out images into different pieces, painting with spray-paint and acrylic. Then adhering onto a spray painted canvas. This piece is part of ArtsPartners' Sky Art Peoria initiative and is proudly sponsored by PIP Printing.

Peoria Civic Center | Artwork at PCC

The Peoria Civic Center is home to a diverse collection of artwork that reflects the creativity, history, and spirit of our community. From large-scale sculptures to mixed media installations, each piece adds character to our public spaces and enhances the experience of every guest who walks through our doors.

Sonar Tide

of

Artist
Ronald Bladen

Location
Circle Terrace near City Hall

Description
A joint venture between the Junior League of Peoria and the Peoria Civic Center Authority, Sonar Tide was commissioned in 1983.

Sonar Tide was designed by architect Ronald Bladen (1918-1988), who is considered a “father of minimalism”.

A joint venture between the Junior League of Peoria and the Peoria Civic Center Authority, Sonar Tide was commissioned in 1983. It is 51feet, 9 inches long, 26 feet high, 4 feet wide, and weighs 16 tons. The sculpture is located on the Circle Terrace near City Hall off of Fulton Street.

In 2021, the Junior League of Peoria donated $45,000 to restore the sculpture. Local artist Fisher Stolz and his colleague Jaci Willis completed the restoration.

A low, semi-circular wall of red stone stands behind the Sonar Tide sculpture. The wall iscomposed of blacks from the Woolner/Bergner's Building.

Cedric the Dragon

of

Artist
Nita Sunderland

Location
Corner of Fulton St. & Jefferson St.

Description
Created in 1975 during a period when Nita Sunderland was deeply exploring animal forms, the sculpture showcases her bold, exaggerated, and imaginative interpretation of a dragon.

Cedric the Dragon, located on the lawn at Fulton Street and Jefferson Avenue, is widely considered Nita Sunderland’s most recognizable work. Created in 1975 during a period when she was deeply exploring animal forms, the bronze sculpture showcases her bold, exaggerated, and imaginative interpretation of a dragon.

A prolific sculptor and influential professor at Bradley University from 1956 to 1988, Sunderland was among the few women pursuing sculpture at the graduate level and one of the first women in the country to teach sculpture at a college or university. Throughout her career, she continued creating artwork that remains on display across the Peoria area, including pieces featured at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

Knockin' On Freedom's Door

of

Knockin' On Heaven's Door sculpture by Preston Jackson

Artist
Preston Jackson

Location
Outside the PCC Arena at Liberty Street and Jefferson Avenue

Description
To commemorate the historic home of Moses and Lucy Pettengill, Peoria sculptor Preston Jackson was commissioned to create the monument Knockin’ on Freedom’s Door.

When revitalization plans for the Peoria Civic Center began in 2002, the Peoria Civic Center Authority pledged to honor the historic home of Moses and Lucy Pettengill, once located at Liberty and Jefferson. The Pettengills were active in the anti-slavery movement and assisted freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad.

In 2005, the Pettengill Home Site was inducted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program and is one of just 11 Illinois sites and the only one in Peoria. To commemorate the site, Peoria sculptor Preston Jackson was commissioned to create the monument Knockin’ on Freedom’s Door, located outside the Civic Center at Liberty Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Seven Generations

of

Seven Generations sculpture by Nora Hutchinson Johnson

Artist
Nora Hutchinson Johnson

Location
Prairie Home Alliance Theater Lobby

Description
Commissioned to fill a 180-foot-long, 64-foot-high space while weighing under 1,000 pounds, the piece was also intended to reflect the community that funded it.

This suspended, fabric-covered bronze mesh sculpture, named Seven Generations, hangs in the Prairie Home Alliance Theater lobby, measuring 34 feet high, 32 feet wide, and 64 feet long.

Commissioned to fill a 180-foot-long, 64-foot-high space while weighing under 1,000 pounds, the piece was also intended to reflect the community that funded it. Originally inspired by the American Arts and Crafts movement, the final wing patterns draw from African textiles which connects global design traditions and symbolically bridging cultures.

To meet weight limits while maintaining a bold visual impact, the seven airfoil-inspired elements maximize surface area with minimal mass; the largest, at 25 feet long, weighs just 165 pounds.

Event

of

Artist
Fisher Stolz

Location
Fourth floor of the Peoria Civic Center outside the Ballroom

Description
Stolz said his concept centered on the word “event,” reflecting the Civic Center’s role as a gathering place where ideas, collaboration, and community come together to create meaningful experiences.

Crafted from Indiana limestone and stainless steel by Fisher Stolz, Associate Professor of Art at Bradley University, this sculpture is located on the fourth floor of the Peoria Civic Center outside the Ballroom. Positioned along the balcony prow overlooking the Great Hall, it is visible from the main floor, administrative offices, and fourth-floor event spaces.

The project was funded through grants from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, including the Taylor and Corrine French Fund for Fine Arts Education and the Eugene and Harriet Swager Fund for Public Art.

Stolz said his concept centered on the word “event,” reflecting the Civic Center’s role as a gathering place where ideas, collaboration, and community come together to create meaningful experiences.

Untitled

of

Untitled sculpture by Stan Myer - Two sculptures hanging on either side of elevators

Artist
Stan Meyer

Location
Great Hall near the Toyota Box Office

Description
This era of his work is characterized by layered materials, varied textures, and an exploration of depth and dimension, reflecting the experimental approach that defined much of his artistic practice.

Untitled is located in the Great Hall near the Toyota Box Office on the first floor of the Peoria Civic Center. The two mixed media works are mounted on the wall near the elevators, making them easily visible to guests as they enter and move throughout the space.

The pieces have been on loan from the Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences since 2005 and were created during Meyer’s 1990 Mixed Media period. This era of his work is characterized by layered materials, varied textures, and an exploration of depth and dimension, reflecting the experimental approach that defined much of his artistic practice.

EP!Casso Art

of

Artwork within the Sensory Comfort Room commissioned through EP!Casso Art Studio & Gallery.

Artists
Catreesa Page, Ronald Howard, Breanna Anderson, & Kimberly Rosa

Location
Sensory Comfort Room

Description
Artwork within the Sensory Comfort Room was commissioned through EP!Casso Art Studio & Gallery.

EP!C is comprised of families, staff, volunteers, and community members working together to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families with unique educational, residential, employment, and clinical programs tailored to each individual’s abilities and needs.

Catreesa Page
I’ve been told my infectious laughter and bright smile always light up the room wherever I go. I have a great sense of humor, love playing games, and I love to joke around with loved ones, friends, and staff.

Ronald Howard
I am an extremely expressive person. I am also a music lover who plays the guitar and reads brail books. I also enjoy many other sensory activities as well.

Breanna Anderson
I love art, and I am fascinated with various artistic processes and mediums. I enjoy any opportunity I get to express myself creatively. I am also very empathetic, caring greatly for my loved ones and friends.

Kimberly Rosa
I enjoy expressing myself in various ways including singing in choir and through the artwork that I make. I also enjoy playing with my stuffed animals and solving puzzles as well.

Learn more about the EP!Casso Art Studio & Gallery here!

ArtPartners' Sky Art Peoria

The Peoria Civic Center helped celebrate the 10th anniversary of ArtsPartners’ Sky Art Peoria initiative by unveiling two new art installations in our Skylight Lobby. This year’s featured works were selected from submissions by talented local artists. These pieces will be displayed prominently as part of the Civic Center’s ongoing effort to spotlight regional creativity in public spaces.

Reflected In Youth

of

Photo of Jaton Sayles and family | Reflected In Youth by Jaton Sayles

Artist
Jaton Sayles

Location
Skylight Lobby above Meeting Room 135

Description
“This piece honors the idea that the next generation is watching, learning, and documenting their world one frame at a time. Through art, photography, and curiosity, they hold the future in their hands. And in every shot they take, a piece of us is captured and reflected in youth.” - Jaton Sayles

Over the years, Jaton has explored a range of mediums from painting and airbrushing to digital illustration and graphic design, each becoming a part of her unique artistic voice.

Through her brand, Flavah, Jaton creates bold, story-driven works that reflect emotion, nostalgia, and cultural pride. Her art celebrates the beauty in everyday life while honoring the communities and experiences that shaped her.

This piece is part of ArtsPartners' Sky Art Peoria initiative and is proudly sponsored by PIP Printing.

Jungle Dusk

of

Photo of Jack Couri and his family | Jungle Dusk by Jack Couri

Artist
Jack Couri

Location
Skylight Lobby above Meeting Room 134

Description
“I like making art because it brings joy to other people and it helps me relax. My favorite things to sketch and draw are nature or animals. Artwork is calming and I’m sure it calms others. I started with learning basic shapes through sketching, clay, and pottery. I love building images through my artwork.” - Jack Couri

Artwork at Peoria Civic Center