An interactive outdoor art piece designed to delight the senses and evoke a childlike sense of wonder will be set up on a temporary basis in downtown Naperville.
The unveiling of Naperville’s Music Box — a sound and light experience — will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the alley between the Apple and Sephora stores on West Jefferson Avenue. It is to be on display through late January.
The project is a partnership between the creative production company Freightwood, ArtForum Naperville, the city of Naperville and the Special Events and Cultural Amenities, or SECA, commission.
Artists behind the piece include Naperville native Maddie Peterson, Freightwood’s creative scenic lead, whose work spans costume design, scenic artistry and fabrication across theater, film, festivals and live events, and Joshua Carr, Freightwood’s structural and technical lead, who has been nominated for a Tony Award for lighting design.
The two, who recently moved to Naperville, have worked around the world, bringing their creative works to places such as New York, London and South Africa.
Without revealing too much about the piece, the three-dimensional art uses a hot air balloon motif, fully fills the space and is immersive, whimsical, musical and magical, Peterson and Carr said.
“You’ll be able to walk through it and experience it, or you can interact with it, or sit and enjoy it,” Carr said.
“Rather than being decorative in nature, it’s a full environment,” Peterson said.
The Naperville Music Box is a foray into immersive art for Naperville, they said.
Freightwood’s goal is to design and create art pieces, events and experiences that are outside the norm, Carr said.
“For us it’s about creating experiences that remind people why we’re alive,” he said. “Sometimes we forget some of the wonder or silliness or joy in life. Wherever we are, we like to create things that are different, that take away from the normal way of thinking.”
The art is free to access and for all ages to enjoy.
“There’s a way for everybody to engage with it however they want to,” Peterson said.
Though the piece will be unveiled this month, it is not holiday-themed.
The focus on lights, family and friends makes the winter season a great time for the art to be installed, Peterson said, adding that the hustle and bustle of people holiday shopping and enjoying downtown further encourages people to stop and wonder at the artwork.
“There’s a thoughtfulness and attention to the world around us because of the holidays that make us appreciate this a bit more,” she said. “There’s an energy to this time of year.”
The temporary nature of the piece only adds to its intrigue, ensuring it doesn’t become another staple in the community or taken for granted, Peterson and Carr said.
“The reality is there’s nothing better than when the circus comes to town,” Carr said. “For that small section of time, they come, they bring this kind of wonder and then they disappear.
“It’s great for things to be temporary, to be fleeting,” he said. “They are there for a moment and then they are gone and they exist in our memories. There’s a beauty in that nostalgia.”
Shannon Greene Robb, vice chair of ArtForum, said the artwork will bring mystery and wonder to the downtown.
“This is a great time of year to add some magic,” Greene Robb said. “It’s exciting. It’s bringing something different to the city of Naperville. … When was the last time you were truly surprised?”
Adding a temporary piece allows residents to be tourists in their own community and take advantage of seeing something new, she said. Residents through surveys have indicated their enthusiasm towards public art, she said.
ArtForum’s mission helps connect local artists, cultural organizations and civic partners to foster a vibrant and inclusive creative landscape throughout the city.
“Naperville’s Music Box reflects our city’s commitment to creating public spaces that engage, inspire, and bring people together,” Michael Gold, president of ArtForum Naperville, said in a statement. “Through the support of SECA and the city of Naperville, we’re continuing to build a legacy of accessible, meaningful public art.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.