Rockford Park District officials this morning are consulting with the artist who created the statue of Joe Marino as they determine how best to repair it.
A bronze, life-size tribute to “Mr. Fourth of July” was discovered on Friday morning splashed with bright yellow paint. Officials covered the statue with a gray tarp for the weekend as they consulted with industry experts, the artist and others to determine how best to remove the paint without damaging the surface.
Officials are also concerned that whatever chemicals must be used to remove the paint could present an environmental hazard to the park or the river nearby . They could remove the statue temporarily, repair it and then return it to the site after it is restored to avoid any environmental hazard.
Commissioned for $38,000 by the Rockford Park District Foundation, the statue was created by artist David S. Seagraves of Elizabeth. It is located at the corner of East State and Water streets.
It depicts Marino – the man who has for years organized the Rockford Fourth of July celebration and the Festival of Lights in Sinnissippi Park – carrying Christmas lights and fireworks while he points with his right hand.
More information is expected later today about how the park district plans to proceed with repairs.
UPDATE: Crews were working to remove the Marino statue from its base at 1:25 p.m. The Rockford Park District has not released their plans forthe statue. Will update further soon.
waste of money to built
tear it down – refund
It’s not a waste of public dollars as far as I know. The statue is being paid for with $38,000 in private donations raised by the Rockford Park District Foundation, $8,000 of which is being paid for by donors on a payment plan. It’s also a nice piece of public art honoring one of Rockford’s most prominent volunteers.
Mr. Marino has done more for this community than any politician could dream of. Marino’s efforts have resulted in millions of people visiting our downtown business and thusly increasing tax revenue for the entire city. Wake up people = he deserves this. Thank you Mr. Marino and let me apologize for the idiot who damaged your statue.
I would have to say in light of the crime this past weekend and Ed Wells article all the outrage of this act of vandalism (and yes it is bad) but to not comment on all the crime (and gun law legislation does not count) is a sad reflection on our community why can’t we more outraged when african-americans get shot and killed yet white guy’s statue gets paint poured on it and its omg!! just saying it says something about our community
With all due respect readingmike……West Side crime is nothing new….perhaps its been going on so long that us simple white folk are used to it. I don’t think that the fact that Joe Marino is white has anything to do with the anger people feel for this statue being vandalized. Maybe if more people….white AND African American……would do something to make this city better it wouldn’t be the decaying craphole its become.
This whole thing is really not a big news story. Much more important fish to fry. We still have a triple homicide that has not been solved!
Oh by the way. The statue was bronze!!! A hate crime indeed. How did this ever get racial?