She Gave Joliet Its Unity Dome: Los Angeles-Based Artist Sijia Chen Offers Her Lasting Message For Joliet

JOLIET, IL — A smiling and happy-g0-lucky Sijia Chen has spent the past few days watching Austin Tyler construction workers assemble her new Dome of Unity sculpture in downtown Joliet across from the Rialto Square Theatre. You can also call it the Unity Dome, as referenced in the signage placed along Joliet's new City Square that just opened last weekend with live music concerts at the band stage.

Chen is originally from China and now lives in Los Angeles where her multi-media art studio is based. Several people walking through Joliet's new City Square on Tuesday over the lunch hour stopped asked for a chance to take a selfie with her.

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Knowing that Chen was leaving Joliet later today to fly back home to Los Angeles, Joliet Patch asked her to give a message to the residents of Joliet; what is her hope or vision that Joliet residents to have once they visit the new City Square and view to her Unity Dome sculpture for the first time?

Chen's Response: "I think Joliet is a great city with a lot of history, culture and a lot of great people so I hope that with the new City Square, people would be able to come up here to relax, to connect and to of course appreciate the Unity Dome.

"Spend a moment in the busy day and then have some time with themselves and with family and with friends."

Joliet Patch then asked Chen if it was difficult for her to put together the design for the Dome of Unity. The pieces were delivered to downtown Joliet on a truck and then a Nichols construction crane lifted the pieces into place on Monday.

"No. I've done many projects like this, so it's not that difficult. But I was certainly very excited about it. I put extra time into it, extra thoughts into it to make sure the process goes smooth and delivered on time for the 100-year (Route 66) celebration in June."

Last, Joliet Patch asked Chen her thoughts about the new City Square for downtown Joliet.

"Oh! Beautiful! It's so nice, it's different, day and night. I think Joliet deserves it, a proper city square."