Naperville's Century Walk unveils sculpture honoring Dick Tracy

For Century Walk Corp., there was little mystery in determining which of its outdoor public art selections in Naperville would be the signature piece.

The nonprofit group led by Brand Bobosky will dedicate its 35th piece Sunday, April 11, a 9-foot bronze sculpture of comic strip detective Dick Tracy.

"Dick Tracy is an icon by Dick Locher and (Locher) is probably the most distinguished artist, or one of them, from Naperville," Bobosky said.

Century Walk will unveil the one-ton piece at 1 p.m. along the downtown Riverwalk near the Naperville Township building, 139 W. Water St. A reception will follow at the municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St.

The Dick Tracy comic strip was created by Chester Gould and has been running for more than 78 years. Locher, once Gould's assistant, drew the strip from 1983 to 2009 and is still writing it. The comic draws about 12.5 million readers a day.

Locher also is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist whose work has graced the pages of the Chicago Tribune for 40 years. He has been a Naperville resident for just as long.

Locher designed a small version of the Dick Tracy sculpture being dedicated. Once Century Walk had secured a license from Tribune Media Services, Don Reed of River's Edge Foundry in Beloit, Wis. sculpted the 9-foot bronze version of the crime fighter.

Bobosky originally hoped to dedicate the piece on the 78th anniversary of the comic strip last fall, but work took a bit longer than expected and he decided to wait for warmer spring weather.

Century Walk's first 30 pieces of art were focused on Naperville's history and appeared around the downtown. Subsequent pieces have branched off in both theme and location.

Bobosky said he believes the Dick Tracy sculpture will make a fitting signature piece because of its broad appeal.

"We feel we've gotten beyond Naperville now and there will be people that will want to see Dick Tracy because he's known," Bobosky said.

The sculpture cost about $150,000, including installation, and was funded largely through Naperville's Special Events and Cultural Amenities grants. Marquette Properties also donated some of the installation costs.

Because the future of Naperville's cultural grants is currently in question, Bobosky's tentative plan to generate revenue for Century Walk is to sell 11- or 12-inch versions of the Dick Tracy sculpture if he can secure the licensing rights to do so. He also would like to move all or part of a former Dick Tracy museum to Naperville. The museum was in Woodstock but is now closed.

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>What: </b>Dick Tracy sculpture dedication </p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>When:</b> 1 p.m. Sunday, April 11</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where:</b> Along Naperville's Riverwalk at the Naperville Township building, 139 W. Water St. with reception to follow at municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St. </p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Info:</b> (312) 222-4717</p>