Flower power: Big rose sculptures sprout in Rosemont

Twenty larger-than-life rose sculptures started to bloom throughout the eponymous Rosemont on Thursday.

“Rosemont in Bloom: Where Art Takes Root” is a public art project launched in conjunction with the village’s 70th anniversary.

Bare 8-foot-tall sculptures were delivered to participating artists, who spent the summer creating unique designs and painting them ahead of the public unveiling at various locations throughout town.

For example, artist Nora Reuter’s piece, titled “Growing Up 90s,” takes inspiration from the pop culture of her youth. The stem is lime green — for slime that was synonymous with the Nickelodeon cable network she grew up watching. The number “23” is stitched on the back of a red leaf in honor of Michael Jordan and the ’90s Bulls.

Reuter, of Dixon, was among 18 professional artists commissioned for the artwork, in addition to students at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago and residents at Misericordia. Some of the artists were at a garden party-themed reception Wednesday evening at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

“Rosemont has spent 70 years creating a community where people want to gather and connect,” Mayor Brad Stephens said. “Rosemont in Bloom continues that tradition, using art to create another shared experience for our residents and the millions of people who visit Rosemont each year.”

Organizers say the sculptures will transform the village into an open-air gallery and create a colorful “seek-and-find” experience.

Among the locations where rose sculptures were installed: the convention center, village hall, Rosemont Theatre and The Pearl District. Several have been planted at Donald E. Stephens Park, at the entrance to the Scott Street subdivision on Higgins Road.

For a full map of installation locations, visit rosemontinbloom.com.

cplacek@dailyherald.com