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Earlier this fall, the giant fiberglass ice cream cone across the street from Olech Farmers Insurance in St. Charles toppled over.
Vandals had bent the base enough to tip it over. So a welder went to work, running a new pipe up the center to give it a new base. Today it stands on its own again — a whimsical mini landmark visible from Route 31.
The Olech team sees it from the window, too. When Cindy Olech and I brainstormed topics for this ongoing Tri-Cities Central series, she lit up talking about the cone, along with all the other sculptures outside the office.
“It has been fun watching the art appear in our front yard,” Cindy said. “We love being part of this block. You can grab a muffin at Breadsmith, stop in to see us, and walk through the St. Charles Arts Council gallery on your way out.”
For a community-minded, family-owned agency like Olech Farmers Insurance, working alongside a public art oasis just feels natural. And the ice cream cone is only one piece of a growing outdoor gallery.
“We’re not trying to promote ice cream, but we are trying to promote sculpture,” said Tom Anderson of Colonial Cafe, who has owned the cone for about 40 years.
In fact, the collection is known as the Anderson Sculpture Garden. If you’ve walked past the corner of State and N. Second St., you’ve encountered it — even if you didn’t know it had a name.
An ice cream family with an eye for art
The “Growth Spirals” sculpture. Details below.
Tom’s grandfather, Simon Anderson, started Colonial with a milk route in 1901, so the family business is marking 125 years in 2026. Tom is now 84. He spent decades running the company.
These days, Tom and his wife, Cris, have a passion for public art.
The couple supported the installation of “Wind Emotions,” the towering kinetic sculptures that spin and sway along the Fox River where State Street meets Route 31. The collection outside the Olech office is just a hop, skip, and a jump from there.
Here’s some of what you’ll find:
“Möbius”: A stainless steel loop sculpture, made by Sugar Grove artist Kai Schulke. Tom picked it up at the Art in the Eye show in Batavia, which was organized by Bill McGrath.
“Blue Tangle”: McGrath, of Batavia, creates sculptures of his own. His “Blue Tangle,” a knot of blue metal, sits in front of Breadsmith.
“Bicycle Flower”: Tom is a bike rider, so this one caught his eye at the Mount St. Mary Park sculpture walk. He bought it, and the park district delivered it to its new home.
Rockets: Local artist Howard Russo, a retired art professor and VP of the St. Charles Arts Council board, contributed one of his rocket sculptures.
“Growth Spirals”: This white marble piece by sculptor Guy Bellaver dates to September 2000. Colonial Cafes and Ice Cream sponsored it alongside the City of St. Charles.
“I guess it’s really our private little collection,” Tom said. “But it’s shared by the community.”
Tom isn’t done yet. He said he has a few new public art projects already in the works, and we’ll be on the lookout for more details as those plans progress.
An artsy corner
For arts enthusiasts, the sculptures are only the beginning. The St. Charles Arts Council runs its ARC Gallery inside the same building, with rotating exhibits featuring work by local artists.
Out in the parking lot, the Arts Council recently launched a new public amenity: the Free Little Art Gallery. First opened in April, it’s a freestanding box that works like a little free library — but for art.
Anyone can stop by to view a piece, take one home, or leave something they made. It was designed and built by longtime Arts Council member Bill Bergeson, and it’s open year-round.
It’s all part of SCAC’s mission, which is to champion art in all its forms, make art accessible for everyone, strengthen community connections, and create a lasting cultural legacy in St. Charles
“Our goal is to have art not only displayed throughout town but woven into the fabric of everyday life,” said Sharon Powers, Executive Director of the St. Charles Arts Council.
And Olech Farmers Insurance is at the center of it all, sharing a building with the gallery and a parking lot with the art box.
Stop in, then take a stroll
The agency fits right in on a block built by a local family business. Rob Olech grew up in St. Charles and took over the agency in 2023 from longtime agent Mike Arbizzani, who started with Farmers in 1969.
The small, family-oriented team handles auto, home, renters, condo, life, business, and Medicare coverage, plus policies for boats, RVs, motorcycles, and rental properties.
Robert Olech Insurance Agency is at 121 N. Second St., Suite F, between Breadsmith and the St. Charles Arts Council. Call 630-584-9313 or visit their website for a quote.
Better yet, stop in to say hi, then take a lap through the sculpture garden on your way out.
Robert Olech Insurance Agency is a sponsor of Tri-Cities Central. This is sponsored content.
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