Erik Blome, a sculptor from Crystal Lake, has created some iconic statutes that dot not only the Chicago landscape, but national monuments as well.
But the acclaimed artist took on perhaps his toughest assignment when he agreed to create a pair of sculptures around the 9/11 tragedy in New York. How difficult is it to capture both the horror and the courage that was on display that day?
"I came from the perspective of diversity, of america, of connection and of first responders," Blome said. "So I wanted to emphasize what we did, and not what they did."
The twin tower sculptures appear to be twisted metal obelisks, with embedded faces of first responders, and topped with birds in flight. The sculputres were placed in Oak Lawn, in front of the town's Metra station as part of a $100,000 reconstruction project that was commissioned by the Oak Lawn Rotary Club, and drew deep support from the community. .
The scuplputres will sit on top of a pair of girders salvaged from the remains of Ground Zero.
"The beams that are going to be here are part of hallowed ground as far as we're concerned," said police chief William Villanova, whose staff helped transport the wreckage.
The sculpture will be dedicated on Sept. 11.
