A fitting tribute to a wonderful artist

Every holiday since 1991, North School Park in Arlington Heights comes alive with magical lighted displays.

Repeat visitors have their favorite piece: the old-fashioned train; pirate ship; revolving windmill or spectacular carousel. Assembled and installed by the Arlington Heights Park District staff, most of these pieces were conceived and created by Louis Nagy, who died this past October.

Trained in his native Hungary as an artist and craftsman, Louis used his skills as ironworker and welder to bend quarter-inch steel rods into illuminated sculptures. The design often began with a sketch on the back of a sheet of plywood and would be executed with unbelievable precision into the larger-than-life Toyland display.

Not limited to steel rod figures, Louis carved the wooden carousel horses, constructed the vintage truck and for a miniature train display, painted an evocative Hungarian mountain scene as backdrop. At this year's ceremonial lighting event, each of the display's tiny lights (were) like hundreds of flames held high in tribute to the artist who gave them life ... a glowing tribute to Louis Nagy.

Nancy Chamberlain

Wheeling