A bronze sculpture proposal by local artist Dante DiBartolo failed to win the top recommendation from Joliet's Arts Commission for the city's downtown City Square public art project. DiBartolo, an Elwood resident who has created notable public artwork throughout the Joliet area, was one of six finalists selected for the high-profile downtown sculpture installation.
DiBartolo's proposed artwork, titled "The Woman Of Steel And Stone," would have been a 9-foot-tall bronze statue weighing approximately 800-1,000 pounds and measuring roughly 6-7 feet wide. The sculpture was designed to pay tribute to Joliet's industrial heritage, incorporating elements that reflect the city's history as a center for steel production and limestone quarrying. "I wanted to create a sculpture with a strong visual presence," DiBartolo explained in his proposal. "The sculpture is a large portrait of a woman with elements of Steel and Stone forming the neck and blending into the face. Joliet was known as the city of Steel and Stone."
The artist's design incorporated numerous local landmarks and symbols into the sculpture's surface. Images of the Joliet Steel Mill, the Slammers baseball stadium, the Jefferson Street Bridge, and the Old Joliet Prison were all planned to be incorporated into the skin of the statue. "I can work with the city to include additional images of city landmarks when the final scale model is produced," DiBartolo offered in his proposal. The female form was chosen to represent "the beauty of art and symbolizing nurturing and community," while also featuring elements of Joliet's iconic historic architecture.
DiBartolo has an established track record of successful public art projects in the Joliet area. In February 2023, he was featured prominently for creating a centennial mural at the Rialto Square Theatre celebrating both the theater's 100th anniversary and Route 66's centennial in Illinois. The mural was funded through the DCEO/Enjoy Illinois FY22 Route 66 Grant program. Additionally, DiBartolo contributed to Joliet's Downtown Music Box Project in October, where he decorated utility boxes throughout downtown with QR codes that allow people to listen to music that inspired each particular artist.
The sculpture's design included symbolic elements beyond the historical references. The back side of the sculpture would feature a torch and tree, with the tree symbolizing "the people of Joliet and their passion and energy" and the torch representing "illumination and inspiration towards the future." DiBartolo's detailed budget proposal totaled $200,000, including installation costs. He estimated the project would require five to six months for clay sculpting, with an additional four to five months needed for the foundry to cast and finish the bronze, bringing the total timeline to nine to eleven months.
Despite the local connection and symbolic relevance, the Joliet Arts Commission ultimately rejected DiBartolo's proposal as their top choice. According to meeting minutes from October 2, 2024, the commission had mixed feelings about the artwork. "Several commissioners stated that they felt this entry was the most symbolic of Joliet's history and culture," the minutes noted. However, Commissioner Eric Gorder argued that "the sculpture seemed too familiar with many of the figurative, gender-specific, sculptures that are already abundant in Joliet."
Other commissioners expressed concerns that the sculpture might not be contemporary enough for the project and location. The commission also discussed their desire to feature work by a national or international artist prominently in Joliet, rather than focusing solely on local talent. The seven Arts Commission members involved in the decision were Eric Gorder, John Simpson Jr., Peg (Marguerite) Stoiber, Ron Romero, Vince Logan, Tom Grotovsky, and Deborah Summers.
Instead, Mayor Terry D'Arcy initially recommended the "Dome of Unity" by Sijia Chen, a Chinese-born artist now living in Los Angeles, with a proposed budget of $197,000. However, the situation became complicated when D'Arcy pulled his recommended artwork from a Tuesday night meeting agenda, leaving the city at a crossroads an entire year after the selection process began. Two of the seven Arts Commission members had actually preferred a different piece called "Joy" over both the Dome of Unity and DiBartolo's Woman of Steel and Stone.
DiBartolo emphasized the practical advantages of his bronze sculpture proposal, noting that "Bronze is extremely durable and resistant to corrosion and will require almost no maintenance." He recommended cleaning with mild soap and water every few years to remove dirt and dust buildup. In case of extreme damage from vandalism or accidents, he planned to keep the molds in storage to allow for easy re-casting of damaged sections. His budget included provisions for foundation work and lighting, with flexibility to redirect those funds toward extra surface details and additional assistant pay if the infrastructure elements weren't required.
