Last year, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley found a creative way to support sustainable housing initiatives: decorate the Elgin area with vibrant globes, bumblebee birdbaths, and butterfly benches.

The sculptures did more than bring color and whimsy to town. They raised over $100,000.

It was all part of Home Planet Earth, an outdoor public art event that drew thousands of visitors in its first year. It’s coming back bigger in 2027, and this time St. Charles is on the map.

Habitat plans to install 45 sculptures throughout Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Carpentersville, and St. Charles. They’ll be on public display from June through September 2027.

Each piece starts as a blank fiberglass form: a beehive playhouse, a butterfly bench, a garden butterfly on a pole, or an iron fire pit. A local artist then transforms it around a shared theme of environmental preservation.

At the end of the summer, the sculptures are auctioned off at a gala on Oct. 2 at The Brix on the Fox in Carpentersville.

The proceeds support Carter Crossing, a 28-home affordable housing neighborhood in Carpentersville named in honor of President Jimmy Carter.

The first 13 homes are being built as a Net Zero “Smart Neighborhood” in partnership with Nicor Gas and Southern Company. That means lower energy bills for the families who live there and a smaller carbon footprint.

Every sculpture is paired with a sponsor, and the sponsor works directly with the artist on the design.

If you’ve ever wanted your business’s name on a piece of public art people will sit on, crawl through, and take photos with all summer, this initiative is worth a close look.

Sponsorships start at $3,000 and include the business name and logo on the sculpture’s signage all summer, a spot in the printed souvenir guide and trail map, recognition on Habitat’s website and social media, and an invitation to the sponsor and artist preview party in May.

Habitat hopes to finalize sponsors by the end of January, so artists and sponsors have time to collaborate on designs. Spots are limited and locations are first come, first served.

Learn more and become a sponsor.

Habitat’s call for artists is open now as well, with stipends from $750 to $1,500 depending on the sculpture. Details and application here.

Not a business owner or an artist? Mark your calendar for next summer and plan to visit the sculpture trail. A map will be available once the pieces are installed.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.