Frog sculptures hopping all over Oakbrook Center

Whether you enjoy spending an afternoon wandering through stores at the mall or if you’re a reluctant participant on a shopping trip, Oakbrook Center is making things a little more interesting this summer.

The center is featuring a lily pad full of large and amusing frogs creating a splash in the fountains and flower beds around the outdoor mall.

The exhibition of creatively painted and decorated Fiberglas garden sculptures is on display through Labor Day at the center, Route 83 and Cermak Road in Oak Brook.

The whimsical frogs — along with several other designs — are for more than just your viewing pleasure; they also are benefiting community members in need.

When the pieces are auctioned in September, proceeds will go toward programs sponsored by HCS Family Services in Hinsdale, which helps homeless and low-income people in the area.

There are 31 sculptures bringing a whole lot of color to the mall, including the large leaping frogs, a bench made to resemble a morning glory and a three-tier hibiscus flower bird bath.

Each piece is creative and one-of-a-kind. The sculptures are sponsored by area businesses and organizations and painted and decorated by professional artists.

There are three frogs in uniform representing Chicago sports teams, for example.

One is named “Firebelly Ozzie” after White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. There is a timeline of White Sox logos since 1939 painted on it, as well as the White Sox mascot hiding for visitors to find.

“Stanley” the frog is painted with scenes of Blackhawks players in action and of the 2010 trophy presentation.

“Da Bullfrog,” meanwhile, wears a Derrick Rose Bulls jersey and his lily pad resembles a basketball court.

The sports sculptures were sponsored by the corresponding teams and are signed by several players, adding to the value and excitement.

“All of the pieces were designed specifically for this event and are original designs,” said HCS Executive Director Susan Fritz, one of the people behind the display.

This is not the first time Fritz has been in charge of a public art project like this. As the former executive director of the Naperville United Way, she organized a sculpture fundraiser that began in 2001 and ran for eight years, borrowing the idea from Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” exhibit.

Now she’s applying the same idea for the “In Bloom” garden sculpture event.

HCS Family Services is a nonprofit organization that helps support 4,700 low-income individuals and families in southeast DuPage County.

Since 1937, HCS has grown into a large organization, providing food and housing for people in crisis, as well as offering education, guidance and resources to help these people become self-sufficient members of society.

Providing such services requires a great deal of funding, and with plans of further development, HCS needed to do something.

Fritz talked to some HCS board members about her idea to raise money, a committee was put together and that’s how the “In Bloom” art sculptures were born.

HCS approached Oakbrook Center to be the venue for the event.

As shoppers walk through the mall this summer perusing the sculptures, they can text a number to vote for their favorite one.

“For every text received, Oakbrook Center will donate a dollar to HCS,” Fritz said.

Local and regional artists were commissioned to paint the sculptures and a few created pieces of fine art for the auction that will take place at the end of summer.

Fritz said many of the artists who painted sculptures in Naperville participated in this event as well. Corporate sponsors cover the cost of the sculptures, including the cost of the artists’ work.

One artist from California used wax casting to create a special sculpture, sponsored by Whole Foods, titled “Harmony. Whole Food. Whole People. Whole Planet.” The piece is valued at $40,000, Fritz said.

In addition, Aqueity and Microsoft teamed up to sponsor the design of a nine-foot dandelion statue called “Wish.”

Visitors who fall in love with one or more of the colorful sculptures can bring them back to their very own garden. On Sept 24, all the sculptures and fine art pieces will be sold at the Chicago Marriott Oakbrook Gala Auction. The profits will directly benefit HCS programs.

In addition to building awareness about the organization, members hope to raise between $150,000 and $200,000 at the auction.

“Every dime from the purchase of these sculptures will go toward HCS programs, so we hope that will motivate people to bid and to bid high,” Fritz said.

If all goes well, Fritz says, HCS may consider sponsoring such art displays every other year.