On Friday, September 15, the Urbana Park District celebrated the garden’s silver anniversary with a rededication ceremony at the start of the 2023 Jazz Walk.
The Wandell Sculpture Garden is an accessible outdoor art gallery featuring large scale public sculptures set in a Midwest native prairie landscape. Dedicated in 1999, the sculpture garden was conceived as a way to support public art in a natural setting. The garden has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as a Top 10 Sculpture Park to visit in Illinois.
A generous donation from the Wandell family, as well as funding from state grants and private donations, has made this public sculpture garden possible.
After Giverny
Awake
Into Thy Hands
Life on the Prairie
Magic
Fathers and Sons
El-Ahrairah
Idea of an Apple
Tumble Gate
Pictograph
Sherpa II
The Gifting Angel
Meadowbrook’s expansive gardens are a vibrant place to view public art, whether you are walking, biking, or simply driving by. The central location of the sculpture loop trail unites the active recreational side of the park with its historic farmstead.
The restored prairie, wetlands, and woodlands offer unique backdrops that evolve with the seasons and time of day. Repeat visitors will have a new experience each time they come, as the art and the natural settings change with the seasons.
To keep the gallery dynamic, most of the exhibits are on a two-year loan from the artist. High-quality pieces are selected to represent a wide variety of local, statewide, national, international artists of different backgrounds, ages, and cultures.
Molecular Reflection by Christiane Martens (donated by Paul and Lori Ellinger)
Tango by Larry Young was a community-driven purchase, installed in 1998.
Donors have played a critical role in the growth of the Wandell Sculpture Garden over the past 25 years.
All of the exhibits that are on a two-year loan from the artist are available for purchase. Many generous donors over the years have purchased sculpture and donated it to the district’s permanent collection, supporting both an exceptional public arts program as well as the artists themselves.
“We love having Meadowbrook Park and the Wandell Sculpture Garden in our neighborhood. The sculptures are exquisite and make a walk in the park very special. We especially liked Two in the Hand by Michael Young and decided to donate it so the community can enjoy his work for years to come.”
Numerous donors have made significant contributions toward the maintenance and operation of the sculpture garden through planned gifts.
If you are interested in supporting the Wandell Sculpture Garden through purchasing and donating a sculpture or through an estate gift, please direct inquiries to Urbana Park District Development Manager, Kelsey Beccue at khbeccue at urbanaparks dot org or (217) 367-1536.
