'Jacks' Forever in Flossmoor: Village Accepts Sculpture Donation From Frankfort Arts Association

FLOSSMOOR, IL — A sculpture that has been featured in Leavitt Park for several years will stay put, the Village announced on Monday.

At its May 18 meeting, the Village of Flossmoor Board of Trustees officially accepted a resolution that recognizes a donation from the Frankfort Arts Association of the sculpture, Land Jacks, created by New Lenox-based artist Jason Verbeek.

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The sculpture, made of three jack-shaped pieces of Corten steel, has been on display as a temporary exhibit in Flossmoor’s Leavitt Park (1101 Leavitt Avenue) since 2022. It was due to leave the Village this summer, as the lease agreement was ending. Fortuitously, the Flossmoor Public Art Commission, a subsidiary of the Village Board, received an offer to keep Land Jacks as part of the Village’s permanent collection of public art via a donation from the Frankfort Arts Association. The Association raised funds to purchase a copy of Land Jacks with the intent to donate it to the Village of Frankfort. Frankfort did not accept the offer, and Verbeek suggested the Association consider the donation for Flossmoor.

“We’re happy to be able to contribute Land Jacks to Flossmoor’s sculpture park and support a community that truly embraces public art,” said Christina Cooley, Frankfort Arts Association president. “We’re also proud to support local artist, Jason Verbeek, whose creativity and craftsmanship deserve to be shared and appreciated.”

According to Verbeek, Land Jacks is inspired by the simple childhood game of Jacks, enlarged and transformed into an abstract, monumental form. To him, it reflects play, balance, intersection and connection. He says he is honored to have his sculpture permanently installed in Flossmoor.

“Public art becomes most meaningful when it becomes part of everyday life: something people encounter during a walk, while gathering in the park, or simply passing through the seasons together,” he said. “For this piece, I also love how the Corten steel changes over time, echoing the changing landscape around it.”

Flossmoor’s public art collection is managed and maintained by the Village’s Public Art Commission. The collection includes 16 permanent sculptures, plus a variety of short-term sculptures that are displayed on a rotational basis. The Commission was established in 1998, following private donations and an Illinois FIRST grant. The collection in Flossmoor includes public sculptures by world-famous artists, such as Richard Hunt and Judith Shea, as well as up-and-coming artists, including Hilde DeBruyne and William O’Brien. Sculptures can be found in Flossmoor’s parks, public areas and in its central business district.

“It’s exciting to see villages investing in creative, accessible spaces that people can experience every day, and we hope other communities will follow Flossmoor’s lead in making room for more public art throughout the region,” says Cooley.

For more information on the Frankfort Arts Association, visit www. FrankfortArts.org. For more information on the Village of Flossmoor’s public art program, visit ArtFlossmoor.com.