The Journeyman

U.S. cities that care about their citizens and communities maintain ‘percent for art’ programs whereby a percentage of the cost of a private or public project is reserved to fund and install public art. The city of Aurora, Illinois built a new Public Transportation Center and invited Lauren Grey, America’s corporate artist, to submit a concept for consideration. Challenge – what imagery best represents a blue collar community in the center of America’s heartland?

Lauren’s solution – to see the distinction in this project and bring it to life…as Aurora, Illinois had been the center of the Midwest’s railroad activity for more than 150 years, and the sculpture was being commissioned for the new Transportation Center, i.e. rail station, focus the piece on the railroads.

She created 8 macquettes, all built around the railroad workers of Aurora. At various times throughout the city’s history, more than 50% of the adult population had been employed in the  industry.

Grey was subsequently awarded this Public Art Commission for “The Journeyman”. With his hammer resting on a wheel standing on a rail, he looks west, contemplating with pride the work he accomplishes the growth of America. The American West was ‘opened up’ in great part by expansion of the railroads out of Aurora.