Joliet Getting ‘Dome Of Unity’ After All? Mayor D’Arcy Calls For Vote On His Preferred Sculpture

JOLIET, IL — Two weeks after removing The Dome Of Unity sculpture $197,000 from the Joliet City Council after facing overwhelming negativity and backlash, Mayor Terry D’Arcy and the City Council are ready to take a final vote on Chinese-born artist Sijia Chen’s work.

Joliet’s director of communications Rosemaria DiBenedetto issued a press release on Friday afternoon announcing that the city of Joliet will bring the Dome of Unity public art proposal to the City Council for a final vote at Tuesday’s meeting.

The project was postponed at the last meeting at the request of Community Development Director Dustin Anderson, to allow for more discussion, a staff presentation and comments from the Joliet Arts Commission.

Envisioned as a signature landmark piece for City Square, the sculpture is expected to draw visitors, support small businesses, and enhance community pride, according to DiBendetto.

“Public art stimulates economies, boosts tourism, and encourages people to spend time downtown which supports our small businesses and revitalization efforts,” stated Mayor Terry D’Arcy. “There is strong community interest in moving this project forward and by bringing it back, we can openly discuss its benefits and give residents a chance to be heard.”

Friday’s press release also included comments from City Councilman Pat Mudron and Suzanna Ibarra.

“I’m so glad we have the opportunity to discuss this so our residents will appreciate the significance of this artwork,” said Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra.

“Infrastructure investments like roads, public safety, and water will always remain top priorities. But cultural investments like this don’t compete with those priorities, they complement them,” Mudron announced.

According to her website, Sijia Chen was born in Shantou, China and now lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a multimedia artist recognized for her papercut collages and large-scale sculptures. Her work explores themes of cultural identity, collective memory, and the impact of human displacement, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques.

“Central to Chen’s practice is a social engagement practice through which she collaborates with communities to create a dialogue between personal narratives and shared histories,” her website proclaims.