Planning a tour
Educators and Tour Leaders
Tour Outline
The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at Governors State University exhibits 26 major artworks, many by masters of 20th Century contemporary sculpture, spread dramatically across a wild prairie landscape. The park is within a one-hour bus ride from most of the Chicagoland area. There is plenty of free parking and a cafeteria, which is open Monday through Friday (Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.). There is no charge for our tours, however donations to the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park – GSU Foundation are gratefully accepted.
By contacting the park at least a month in advance of your visit, park staff will be able to arrange coverage for your tour. Presented either by park staff or pairs of trained docents, tour experiences are interactive and designed so that the visitor—student and adult alike—comes away with an appreciation of the unique vision each artist has developed.
A PowerPoint presentation, which previews the park using archival images and commentary about the past, present, and future of the organization, is available by pre-arrangement. This presentation, with a question-and-answer period, is approximately 40 minutes long.
Visitors are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes as extensive walking on uneven paths is required. Please dress appropriately for the season.
A recent high school art instructor wrote, upon his return to campus:
“We appreciated your willingness to personally tailor a program
that met our needs as well as far exceeded our expectations.”
Because of its size and the outdoor nature of the park, we recommend you plan at least 1½ to 2 hours for your visit. You may sign up for one of two tours.
The north tour visits 11 works.
- Yes! For Lady Day—Mark diSuvero
- Oscar’s Inclination—Michael Dunbar
- Illinois Landscape No. 5—John Henry
- Flying Saucer—Jene Highstein
- House Divided—Bruce Nauman
- Falling Meteor—Jerry Peart
- Frame—Richard Rezac
- Untitled—Joel Shapiro
- Phoenix—Edvins Strautmanis
- Paul—Tony Tasset
- Sisyphus' Aviary—Dan Yarbrough
The south tour visits 10 works.
- Arc 3—Mike Baur
- Sextant Yoke—Mike Baur
- Passage—James Brenner
- Throne (for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)—Ted Sitting Crow Garner
- Large Planar Hybrid—Richard Hunt
- Art Ark—Terry Karpowicz
- Field Rotation—Mary Miss
- Mock II—John Payne
- V-form and Forms in Blue—John Payne
- Working on the Failed Utopia—Christine Tarkowski
Custom tours can be pre-arranged by contacting the park office at least a month in advance.
