Located in Northwest Illinois, Rock Falls is home to a vibrant collection of sculptures that bring life and creativity to the RB&W District. These public artworks celebrate the community’s imagination, history, and cultural diversity—inviting residents and visitors alike to connect with art in meaningful and inspiring ways. From striking contemporary designs to sculptures that honor local heritage, each piece adds a unique character to the city’s ever-evolving landscape.
There are 11 sculptures within the RB&W District, one sculpture along 1st Avenue adjacent to the district, and another located on the east side of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites parking lot. The RB&W District is open year-round and welcomes bicycling, jogging, and walking. The area is fully accessible for persons with disabilities. Dogs on leashes are welcome; owners are required to pick up and properly dispose of pet waste.
Bicycle rentals are available from May through October, and the district hosts a variety of community events throughout the year. Explore these remarkable installations and discover how public art in Rock Falls continues to enrich our shared spaces and spark imagination.
Materials: Welded layers of Steel.
His sculptures depict figures in motion that are classical in form and modern through technique. The welded layers of steel represent all the layers to Art.
The viewer has the option to simply identify by the imagry or to seek out a deeper narrative within the layers.
Materials: Old Farm Equipment
Rising Above is a fitting name for a sculpture that captures the essence of growth and dominance in nature. The use of a grain dryer, fan guard and a plant shield from old farm machinery gives the piece a sense of industrial strength while symbolizing flowers' resilience and determination to rise higher. The blend of these salvage materials adds a unique character to the sculpture.
James Haire created this sculpture in 2000 for a couple from Connecticut who had seen his work in a gallery in Vail, Colorado and were particularly drawn to his tennis-themed pieces. Capturing the perfect pose was a challenge—he aimed to depict a figure who appeared both relaxed and powerful, patiently waiting for her turn on the court. While Haire primarily sculpts with clay, he often explores incorporating other materials to more fully express the story behind each piece, driven by his creative vision.
Riefe's art has been driven by his interests in perception, space, and time. He strives to make art relevant by facilitating interactive and insightful experiences.
Art, for him, is a way of spurring curiosity, dialog, and creating a sense of place.
Riefe's work spans from intimate objects to large exterior site-specific sculptures. His practice uses form and material to connect viewers to the present moment.
I started out as a child, building tree houses and various objects. Creating became a critical part of my life. Later I excelled at art and became interested in light and discovered film. At Columbia College, I continued my studies, eventually finding myself at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Immersing myself in the abstract and the practical, I learned and unlearned aspects of my art.
Over the last 30 years, I have continued to work on my sculptures both large and small in a host of materials. My work has been sold internationally. One of the biggest highlights of my career was being commissioned by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to create an entryway sculpture and mural to commemorate the museum's anniversary.
Working in the Sedgwick Studio over the last 12 years has helped me to mature as an artist, collaborating and making the objects necessary to my life
Alex Mendez uses sculpture to give his thoughts, feelings and emotions a tangible presence in the world. Each sculpture is different from another because he tries not to limit himself to using just on pattern or shape. Doing this helps him grow as an artist.
What he intends from this sculpture is to know what you think and how do they make you feel?
This piece is a smaller, single version of a larger commission created in Darke County, Greenville, Ohio. The original installation featured a series of half kayaks with a butterfly positioned in the center, similar to the design represented here.
This sculpture uses upcycled materials, including semi-transparent ink on polycarbonate to create the butterfly’s wings. This smaller piece features a single half kayak with a representation of a blade of grass, continuing the artist’s passion for transforming upcycled materials into unique works of art.
Bryant Tubbs is an abstract artist. This Stainless Steel piece with an upcycled red stoplight for the center showcases just how repurposed materials can transform spaces.
Charles Yost Combines geometric and organic elements in his work. He believes that interaction between the viewer and the sculpture is important.
Kinetic movement in some of his pieces encourages the viewer to set the forms in motion. In some cases, the viewer may even rearrange the design possibilities.
Gregory Mendez is a professional sculptor from Decatur ,Indiana with a passion for public Artwork. He studied at the University of St. Francis school of Creative Arts in Fort Wayne, Indiana and graduated with a BFA in sculptures. He has many sculptures that are placed around the United States and Nemesis has found a permanent home at RB&W District Park.
This abstract sculpture was designed and donated to the City of Rock Falls in 2023 by Phillip Mattox, founder and owner of Mattox Insurance Agency, which has served the Sauk Valley area since 1974.
The artwork symbolizes the five major manufacturers—NW Steel & Wire, National Manufacturing, Lawrence Brothers Manufacturing, Parrish-Alford, and Russell, Burdsall & Ward (RB&W)—that once thrived along the Rock River in Sterling and Rock Falls but were eventually lost due to various external forces.
The large black triangle represents these industries, while the red triangle piercing through it illustrates the disruptive forces that led to their decline and the loss of countless jobs. This piece stands as a tribute to the past and a reminder of what once was.
Sisters is designed to showcase the similarities and differences that sisters have. One thing he always notices when 'people watching' he can pick out sisters when they are together. When they are younger they try and be as different as possible with each other and have their own identity. He has also noticed that somewhere down the line as they get older then they try to be more similar and allow them to be perceived as sisters. This sculpture design showcases just that sisters are very similar but different in many more ways than one.
Skupniewitz’s unique modern landscape sculptures, both bronze and steel, are a mix of geometry, balance and structure. Incorporating both movement and sound, these colorful sculptures add to the harmony of the natural landscape.