Sister City Exchange Sculpture Unveiled at the Peoria Civic Center

Sister City Exchange Sculpture Unveiling
at the Peoria Civic Center
This Friday, September 9

September 6, 2011 (Peoria, IL) – The public is invited to attend the unveiling of Sister City Friends 2, a sculpture commemorating the sister city relationship between Peoria, IL and Friedrichshafen, Germany, at the Peoria Civic Center on Friday, September 9, 2011, at 10 am in Skylight Lobby. Light refreshments will be provided.

The artwork, designed by Morgan Elser, is a 3’ x 4’ high-relief sculpture featuring iconic images of Friedrichshafen, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and one of his famous airships, the city seal and masks from Fasnet, the pre-Lenten carnival celebrated in Southern Germany. The piece also includes well-known Peoria images, such as the Murray Baker Bridge and St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The Peoria Sister City Commission, through the Friends of Friedrichshafen organization, commissioned two sculptures to celebrate the 35th anniversary of sister city relations between Peoria and Friedrichshafen. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis presented the first sculpture to the City of Friedrichshafen in June, and the second piece will commemorate anniversary celebrations when German guests are hosted in Peoria this October.

“Assimilating images of both cities in the artwork symbolizes how well the communities work together,” said Rex Linder, Peoria Sister City Commission Chairman, “which is the highest compliment that can be paid to any sister city relationship.” Friedrichshafen images have a stronger presence in the sculpture hanging in the Peoria Civic Center, and the artwork displayed in Germany gives dominance to Peoria imagery. “While the two are companion pieces, each is unique and only some of the elements repeat in both sculptures,” explains Linder. “Morgan Elser of Delevan has captured the cities’ images wonderfully.”