NEWS for IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Parting the Prairie” arrives in Naperville

DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Release date: May 8, 2007

DCM Contact: Lynne Jele, Marketing & Membership

Phone: (630) 637-8000 ext. 2600

NEW! Huge new sculpture installed at DuPage Children's Museum

DuPage Children's Museum’s award-winning building is taking on a new dimension this spring that will make it even more colorful! The transformation is taking place on the north parking lot side, facing the Metra train tracks, where a huge interactive sculpture, commemorating the importance of trains to the development of our area, will delight commuters, Museum guests and tourists.

Everyone will have the opportunity to share and enjoy this vibrant work in front of the Museum, installed by the Naperville Century Walk as one of several art installations in Naperville.

Chicago artist Christine Rojek is nationally and internationally known for her public sculptures developed for gardens, other museums and malls. She took the train theme, considered the nature and history of Naperville and the setting for the sculpture then developed this huge piece, called “Parting the Prairie”.

“Children love trains and often watch them from the Museum windows on the upper level. This beautiful, kinetic work will also be visible from those windows and portrays movement and progress, linking the past with the future—it’s a perfect fit for Naperville and the Museum--an intriguing piece of both engineering and art,” commented Marcia MacRae, Arts Specialist at DuPage Children's Museum.

After a year in the making, “Parting the Prairie” will be dedicated in a ceremony next to the sculpture at noon on May 18. Century Walk Founder Brand Bobosky says, “This delightful work uniquely fits its purpose in connecting the history and importance of trains in the area with our progress and future and we look forward to having it in place here in Naperville.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST, CHRISTINE ROJEK:

Specializing in public sculpture, Christine Rojek uses the tenets of fine design to create interactive environments that have undeniable relevance and appeal to people of all ages. These forms of lyrical expression can be provocative, humorous, or whimsical, and have become destination pieces to which people come again and again. Rojek’s pieces have been installed throughout the United States, including such public spaces as EdVenture Children’s Museum (Columbia, SC), Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL) and in Park Place Mall (Tucson, AZ).

Christine Rojek earned her BFA in painting at the University of Illinois (Champaign, IL) then continued her studies at the American School of Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau, France), focusing on performance and installation. After extensive travels through Europe and Mexico, Rojek settled in Chicago where she currently resides. When she is not pursuing sculpture, she serves on the Chicago Public Arts advisory board, teaches at Columbia College and is a founding member of Chicago Sculpture International. More information see: http://www.christinerojek.com/index.htm.

Her next work will be installed in Bloomington-Normal. The commission for this work is being funded by the Capital Development Board and the Percent for the Arts Commission, awarded through the State of Illinois Art in Architecture Program for Illinois State University at Normal.

NAPERVILLE CENTURY WALK:

Naperville Century Walk is a public arts program featuring murals, reliefs, mosaics, sculptures and other commissioned artwork, on display throughout downtown Naperville, commemorating the history and development of the Naperville, Illinois area. More information can be found online at http://www.centurywalk.org.

DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:

DuPage Children’s Museum, a top Chicagoland cultural attraction, is a not-for-profit organization celebrating its 20^th Anniversary in 2007—an imagination celebration of the importance of play, as envisioned by our founders.

On any given day, about 1000 visitors come through the Big Red Door of DuPage Children’s Museum and engage in three floors of open-ended activities. It is a playful, fun environment where children and the important adults in their lives learn and play together in thoughtfully planned “neighborhoods” designed to promote skill development in math, science and the arts.

Thank you for all you do! The Museum depends on donations and sponsorships for over 40% of its budget. Your support helps make a difference in the lives of thousands of children!

Location: 301 N. Washington Street

Naperville, IL 60540

Phone: 630-637-8000

Hours* Monday: 9 am - 1 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm

Thursday: 9 am - 8 pm

Sunday: 12 - 5 pm

*Call for special seasonal hours.

General Admission: $7.50 per person, ages one through 59.

$6.50 per person, ages 60 and over.

Admission is never charged to shop the Explorer Store.

Free Parking. Wheelchair Accessible. Quick walk from Naperville Metra Station.

Annual Memberships: Several types of memberships and gift memberships are available. Please visit http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call 630-637-8000 for more information.

#end#