A corny kickoff to McLean County Museum of History’s Sculpture on the Square

The McLean County Museum of History has unveiled a 10-foot corn sculpture named Star-Crossed Pollinators, kicking off a new public art initiative in the heart of downtown Bloomington.

The sculpture celebrates the 25th anniversary of Corn on the Curb, in which various corn-themed sculptures were placed around Bloomington and auctioned off. The initiative was originally inspired by Chicago’s Cows on Parade in 1999 and was meant to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the City of Bloomington.

Created by artist Herb Eaton, Star-Crossed Pollinators resembles an ear of corn with blonde tassels and two arms, both clutching a tree branch. It now resides on the southwest lawn of the museum. It was made from wood, stainless steel, fiberglass, hemp, canvas and acrylic paint.

Eaton said the name of the sculpture is inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

A Creative Catalyst Grant from the Illinois Art Council paved the way Star-Crossed Pollinators as just the first of a rotation of large-scale art pieces displayed on a concrete pad laid last year to house a restored Livingston Santa. It’s the the inaugural Sculpture on the Square.

“In the future, local artists will be invited to display sculptures that resonate with the history and the spirit of this great community,” said Julie Emig, executive director of the McLean County Museum of History.

Eaton is the owner and operator of Herb Eaton Studio and Gallery in downtown Bloomington, where several of his works are installed in various nooks and crannies.

“Eaton’s sculpture, who I have been fondly calling Lady Corn, has been housed outside Eaton’s studio for years. She has withstood curious passersby, torrential rainstorms and Pokémon, yet she has emerged better than ever [and] very proud of her windswept corn husk hair,” Emig said.

In her remarks at Friday’s unveiling ceremony, Emig reminded attendees of the City of Bloomington’s community preservation plan, which states that the museum will continue to employ various methods of showcasing the narratives surrounding local history. She said Eaton’s sculpture is just the beginning of this plan.

“I’m really proud that it [Star-Crossed Pollinators] was chosen to be put up here. Thanks to everyone for supporting me and my art in the studio and putting up with me,” Eaton said.

“It’s very important for people to see something static … something that is built by use of people’s hands to be able to understand [expressions] of human beings,” Eaton continued.

Emig said the museum will invite other artists to showcase their work which represents local history in the future.

“I think Herb is right—that there’s an opportunity here that hasn’t really existed before—to get community artwork outside and have it be a part of the landscape downtown,” Emig said.

Emig said any additional funding from the Illinois Arts Council is not guaranteed, which is why it is important to spread the word about Sculpture on the Square and what will come of it.

“We will not give up,” Emig said. “We will seek ways to keep this initiative going and we are very lucky that many people in the community support the arts, culture and history because they see it as an invaluable part of who we are.”