'Joliet Is Thriving, We're Ready To Rock' Campaign Unveiled

JOLIET, IL — On Thursday evening, at least 100 people gathered in downtown Joliet outside the Joliet Junior College's culinary arts building to celebrate the unveiling of Joliet's new sculptured guitars.

The new art exhibition features a dozen, 6-foot-tall fiberglass custom-decorated guitars that will be on display throughout downtown Joliet until early October.

The Joliet City Center Partnership, Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the city of Joliet collaborated for the interactive street art exhibit called “Ready to Rock.”

Each guitar was uniquely painted by professional local and regional artists.

“Ready to Rock” was developed by the partnering organizations’ desire to showcase Downtown Joliet, draw visitors to the area, and boost community pride.

Three Joliet City Council members spoke at Thursday's event: newly elected members Cesar Cardenas and Suzanna Ibarra, as well as Cesar Guerrero, who is starting his third year on the City Council.

"I want to thank all of the sponsors," Ibarra told the crowd. "I'd like to thank the project manager, Lisa, and everyone involved. I very recently wrote a grant that is related to the arts and the amazing effects it has on mental and behavioral health and also just your overall health and wellness, and I think it's just so important for the city of Joliet to be featuring these.

"It gauges all of the senses. Because it's a guitar, you can almost hear the music playing as you look at all the beautiful art. I want to thank everyone involved, and I want everybody to know that this something that we'd like to see a lot more of now."

Priscilla Cordero, executive director at the Joliet City Center Partnership, reminded everyone that on Oct. 4 at the Rialto Square Theatre, there will be the live auction of the 12 custom decorated guitars.

"We will have more information coming out on that, but that's a live auction and regardless, it will be fun to see. We encourage you all to come back to that, October 4 at the Rialto."

The following artists created the street guitars:

Sarah Comoda

Roho Garcia

Robert Kelly

Rene Rodriguez

Matt Jesiolowski

Margie Keniley

Kelly Bartels

Karen Fike

Benedick Family

Donna Franks-Tapley

Dante DiBartolo & Christine Kozol

Angelica Cristal

At the bottom of this Joliet Patch story, you can learn where all the guitars are located.