Summer United Way Fundraiser Gets ‘Buggy’
January 18, 2008
“Ugly Bug Ball” this will not be.
By KATE R. HOULIHAN Staff writer
Burl Ives belted out that tune in the 1963 movie “Summer Magic” as a way to show beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And come summer, there will be no shortage of beautiful insects downtown thanks to the “garden party” theme of the Naperville United Way’s annual sculpture fundraiser and outdoor art display.
“We’re looking at incorporating these bugs into a bench or chair,” said Susan Fritz, Naperville United Way chief professional officer. “A dragonfly may look like a garden bench with the wings stretched out to form the back, a ladybug may look like a playhouse and a frog may look like a garden chair. We might have a butterfly with large wings. We’re looking at an idea of possibly a garden cart.”
Form and function combined with the fanciful has become an important aspect in deciding what type of Fiberglass sculptures to place along the Riverwalk and throughout downtown. All sculptures are auctioned off in September.
“We’re trying to incorporate the practical with the fun,” Fritz said. “We really need to keep in mind what works with auction. We wanted to go a bit more sophisticated, but we still wanted to have some whimsy to it, because that’s what drives people and families downtown to see them.”
Fritz said the big bugs will work well for people who want to incorporate them into their gardens. In addition, they’re aiming for pieces that offer ample canvas room for artistic expression.
Final details will be known when a committee examines design drawings from Chicago-based Cowpainters and narrows the selection next week. Fritz said two new co-chairs, Debbie Rigdon and Maureen Baier, are heading the charge this year, and she said their experience organizing the annual Little Friends Inc. auction should help.
Last year’s splashy symphony of water-themed creatures drew more than $100,000 when all was said and done.
Fritz believes the unique designs at this year’s garden gala will be “phenomenally successful.”
“We’ve gotten wonderfully creative, outstanding pieces,” she said.
Contact Kate Houlihan at khoulihan@scn1.com or 630-416-5224
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3 Responses to “Summer United Way Fundraiser Gets ‘Buggy’”
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Can you please email me the sponsorship information for the garden party? I can’t seem to find it on the website.
Thank you!
CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE DATES THAT THE BUGS WILL BE ON DISPLAY. WE ARE 3 SENIOR COUPLES THAT TRAVEL TO SEE THE FIBERGLAS DISPLAYS DURING THE SUMMER. AS RETIRED PEOPLE, THIS BECOMES OUR VACATIONS. WE USUALLY COMBINE SEVERAL PLACES ON EACH TRIP. LAST YEAR WE WENT FROM HOME (NEW HAMPSHIRE) TO NEW YORK (HORSES) (CATS) AND (SQUIRRELS). THEN WE WENT ON TO CLEVELAND FOR THE GUITARS. IT WAS QUITE A TRIP.
WHAT ARE THE DATES THE BUGS WILL BE ON DISPLAY?