Take a walk through Long Grove and you might just have a hard time not stopping to gaze at our newest installation of outdoor art. Long Grove’s Woodland Grove Gallery is honored to represent the acclaimed artist behind these works, Lyman Whitaker.
Lyman Whitaker	Owners of the Woodland Grove Gallery, Tobin Fraley and Rachel Perkal could not be more proud to have been selected to represent Mr. Whitaker and his work. “It is a wonderful feeling when we are able to strike a perfect balance between loving someone’s artwork, connecting thoroughly with the artist and delighting people when they discover and often acquire something that will give them joy for many years to come,” says Rachel. Fifty of these billowing copper and steel sculptures were transported here by Mr. Whitaker and his assistants, all the way from his studio in Utah. They were then carefully assembled outside the Woodland Grove Gallery and across the street.

The sculptures themselves are truly dynamic, in every sense of the word. Each one is just as magnificent standing alone, softly twisting in the trees, as it is paired with other sculptures to create what Mr. Whitaker calls a Wind Forest™. Even on the calmest days, a gentle breeze can start them turning, while on windier days (which we can expect a lot of) they’re all the more compelling. Take a look at the video below for just a taste of what these sculptures are like. Warning: video side effects may include calmness, euphoria, and an urge to go to Long Grove!

Ranging from 5 to 27 feet tall, they are crafted by hand from copper, steel and stainless steel, providing Lyman with a beautiful palette of rusts, browns, tans and greens to complement Mother Nature.

As delicate as their movements may be, they’re certainly not going anywhere: they’re built to endure even the harshest of elements, complete with a sealed ball bearing at the top of each vertical rod and, to hold them steady, a steel ground mount or concrete base. (So if you take one of these beauties home, you need not worry about toppling, weathering, or art-loving thieves.)

More than anything, they’re quite… mesmerizing. Mr. Whitaker speaks fondly of the sculptures he test-runs around his home, and of previous clients remarking on how calming the sculptures have been for them. Calming, yes, but with a message that’s not to be taken lightly. Mr. Whitaker uses his art to express his concern for the survival of the planet and his desire to move toward better solutions in relationship to the earth. By placing the sculptures in settings dependent on natural elements for movement, participants are encouraged to think about their surroundings in a different way.

Mr. Whitaker’s Wind Sculptures can be found on display in the United States, Europe and Australia (for a full list, click here). But, when it comes to the Long Grove installation, Lyman notes that, “The beautiful gardens and rolling landscape of Long Grove make this one of my favorite installations.” Make sure you stop by Historic Business District of Long Grove to experience these beautiful works of art and see why this is one of his favorites!

Lyman Whitaker’s Wind Sculptures™ in Long Grove