Lincolnshire unveils apples as new public art project

Chicago had its colorful cows and Arlington Heights had its multihued horses.

Now Lincolnshire is launching a public art spectacle, this time with Fiberglas fruit.

Sixteen gigantic apples, decorated by different artists, will be on display in town this summer to commemorate the Lincolnshire Community Nursery School's 40th anniversary.

"We wanted to celebrate and contribute back to the community that supported us for 40 years," said Lynn Driscoll, one of the project's organizers.

Apples were chosen as a motif because the fruit is identifiable with schools, Driscoll said.

The apples were unveiled to the public Tuesday in a reception at village hall before the evening's village board meeting. Using umbrellas to keep dry, people checked out a dozen of the apples in a secluded area near the building before stepping inside for cheese, fruit slices and crackers.

Sponsors paid $1,000 or $1,300 per apple, depending on whether they chose to paint them or have an artist assigned to the project, Driscoll said. Sponsors include the Stevenson High School Foundation, Village Green Dentistry, the Vernon Area Public Library and Sprague Elementary School.

The designs include kids in swimming pools, a patriotic theme with the U.S. flag and a dancing couple.

The apples will be placed at locations throughout the village, including Stevenson High School, Spring Lake Park and North Park.

The apples should remain on display through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Village Manager Brad Burke called the effort "a great community-building opportunity." A map highlighting the locations of all the apples will be added to the village website, Burke said.

"We see that as a benefit to encourage people to come to Lincolnshire," he said.

The concept of painted, Fiberglas art installations began in Switzerland in the 1980s. A similar project came to Chicago in 1999.

Other U.S. cities - including New York, Las Vegas, Boston and Denver - followed. The installations haven't been limited to cows. Dolphins, pigs, ducks and guitars are just a few of the objects featured in the exhibits.

Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Long Grove are among the Chicago-area communities that have had similar projects.