HP150 Sculpture Unveiling 

Artist Mike Szabo installed Ingress at the corner park at the intersection of Deerfield Road, Hickory Street, and Laurel Avenue on Tuesday, August 27. The HP150 sponsor bricks and landscaping elements will be installed by a landscaper in late September/ early October. An unveiling ceremony will tentatively take place on Tuesday, October 29 at 4 PM at the park in conjunction with Arts Month.

Standing over 8’ tall and 24’ wide, Ingress symbolizes both a ribbon honoring the first 150 years of Highland Park, and from another angle, a gateway to the future. The design aims to create experiences of contemplation, curiosity, wonderment, and joy. The interior height of the arch is 7’, allowing people to experience the gateway by walking through and around the sculpture. The sculpture will be fabricated from brushed stainless steel and rich patina bronze, durable and lasting materials, to help reflect the surrounding environment.

In 2018, the City conducted a competitive solicitation for an outdoor public art sculpture and ultimately commissioned the sculpture entitled ‘Ingress’ by artist Michael Szabo of San Francisco, California. Ingress was selected out of a pool of 29 different proposals by the Cultural Arts Advisory Group (CAAG). City Council accepted the recommendation of the CAAG. In 2018, the City conducted a request for proposals process which was promoted locally and internationally through a variety of arts groups and organizations. The purpose of the sesquicentennial art sculpture is to add to the prestige of the City’s art collection; engage imaginative interaction and reflection; attract and please visitors; contribute to the overall livability of the City of Highland Park; reflect on the innovative energies and creative values of the community; and consider the engagement of viewers who encounter the work in differing modes, including on foot, by bike, and in cars.