The 21st annual Carl Sandburg Festival concluded last night, but not before a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the statue in the Public Square.
Rain kept the dedication ceremony indoors at the Central Congregational Church. Among the speakers was artist Lonnie Eugene Stewart, who sculpted the Sandburg statue.
“This commission to sculpt Carl Sandburg is particularly meaningful to me, as you know, because I’m an artist commissioned to sculpt an artist,” he said. “Additionally, we were both from Galesburg.”
He described several features of the statue, such as the “consistent expression” of Sandburg’s eyes.
“Carl didn’t look to where he was going, he was going where he was looking.”
And the Swedish guitar on the statue’s back.
“It represents his famous song bag, his collection of songs he so enjoyed performing for his friends,” Stewart said.
President of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Donald Evans spoke on the poet’s connection to Galesburg.
“There’s no doubt that Galesburg as well as Chicago were very important to Carl Sandburg and helped him become who he was,” Evans said.
At the site of the statue, Heather Norman of the Galesburg Public Art Commission cut the ceremonial ribbon.
