Client: Northern Illinois University
Location: DeKalb, IL, United States
Completion date: 2009
Artwork budget: $50,000
Project Team
Artist
Bruce A Niemi
Sculpture by Niemi LLC
Architect
Mark Hopkins
HKM Architects + Planners, Inc.
Overview
This 17'7″ memorial was created to honor the 5 students that were slain on February 14, 2008 on the NIU campus. After the shooting NIU put out a call for art to Alumni and I was given the honor to create this piece.
Goals
Rising up like an eternal flame, reaching to the heavens, giving hope, always to be remembered. Healing with time, moving forward together forward, past this moment that has affected so many lives in so many ways. These students will live on through everyone, they’ve touched, loved, and shared their hopes and dreams with, as well as those who didn’t know them but will remember them because of this memorial.
Process
Mark and I worked very closely on this project to make sure it was honoring the students.