Leafgate Garden or Congregational Park – no matter what you call it, it is in a sad state

Roman paved path and circle with bench, some plantings — Paved path and hand-cast bench in Congregational Park, ca. 2015. Credit: Gay Riseborough

As a former director of the Department of Public Art, I learned that there was actually an art installation in the small park behind the First Congregational Church of Evanston at 1445 Hinman Ave. So I went there in 2015 to photograph the artwork so it would be included in the city’s public art map, but it wasn’t.

I had not known about the park, which belongs to the city and not to the church as everyone assumes. It consists of a triangular piece of land that begins behind the church and extends on both sides, at Lake and Grove Streets, until it comes to a point at the east end, at Judson Avenue.

The art installation consists of two hand-cast cement benches, their hand-cast posts, a winding path of “Roman” square and curved hand-cut pavers and carefully selected drought-resistant plants. The garden was in a deplorable state in 2015.

This summer, nine years later, I photographed it again and found it in an even sadder state. Coming from Grove Street, I could see that one tree was completely dead. As I got closer, I saw that the plants I had photographed in 2015 were gone.

Memorial plaque in the ground says "Leafgate Garden" — A memorial plaque embedded in the ground tells the story of the art installation near the First Congregational Church. Credit: Gay Riseborough

There is a plaque at ground level in the park that lists the name of the garden, the artists, the Evanston Arts Council as steward, and Edward A. Johnson as donor. Johnson is the same longtime Evanstonian who gave the city the two large commissioned sculptures by Richard Hunt. above the public library in 1997.

In September 1992, the Evanston Review reported on the garden’s opening, calling it “a public art project with a walkway and benches for meditation.” But the garden is now too open and exposed to allow for much meditation.

I wrote to the artists involved, Gary Justis and Linda “LJ” Douglas, a recently retired couple who now live in Bloomington, Illinois. Justis responded that they “hand-built” the park in 1991, along with “a great volunteer, Mark Slotkowski.”

“At the time of construction, there was an older tree that formed a natural arch over part of the structure. The city removed it in the mid-1990s – I don’t know the reason,” Justis said.

Gary Justis Credit: Gary Justis

Linda “LJ” Douglas Credit: Linda Douglas

Justis said the contract was advertised as that of the Arts Council. Historic first art commission, and the cost to the city totaled $17,000. The artists worked with Paul D’Agostino, then-director of forestry, and Jonathon Glus, then-public art coordinator for the city.

Justis and Douglas both studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Both have works in major American museums. Douglas is a Graphic Designer and art critic and was a teacher at several institutions in Illinois.

Justis is a multimedia artist who works in sculpture, printmaking and writing. His sculptures often include projected light and movement. He works primarily in experimental photography Now.

At the time of the park commission, Justis had been hired by Northwestern as a lecturer in art theory and practice. He learned about the opportunity “through the art network back then.” He later became a full-time sculpture instructor at NU and then moved to Illinois State University, where he is professor emeritus.

Ellen Galland, whose Lake Street home faces the park, said recently, “I remember being relieved when Gary’s design was chosen. Instead of a sculpture that would ‘disturb’ the park, he designed a landscape sculpture that would enhance it.” The artists said Galland brought them tea and snacks during construction.

Of the garden, Justis wrote: “Both we and the city and the arts organization were optimistic that the Evanston Garden Society/Association would maintain the garden, but there was no interest on their part because the church would not allow them to tap into their water source. This was a great disappointment to all who had been committed to the project.”

Although the plants were selected for their hardiness and drought tolerance – including yarrow, golden starflower, coneflower and woolly yarrow – it is obvious that they have disappeared due to lack of care.

There are several gardening societies in Evanston, and any of them could take on this project if the church were now willing to give up its water.

A park performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by the Mudlark Theatre in summer 2024. Credit: Mudlark Theatre

A search for the contract between the city and the artists was unsuccessful. The artists could not find a copy and a public records request did not reveal any extant documents in the city’s possession. I had hoped that the contract would include some reference to maintenance.

The Mudlark Theater, Evanston’s preeminent children’s theater company, has its offices and rehearsal space nearby, at 1417 Hinman Ave. In the summer, Mudlark’s smaller summer camp productions often take place in the same park, which they call Triangle Park, using the path and benches.

During the pandemic, Mudlark used a number of outdoor spaces, including this park, not only for theater but also as a safe outdoor gathering place. And, Galland says, “during COVID, a knitting group, which included a gentleman, met once a week near the bench at the south end.” So the park was well attended at that time.

Since more people have been working from home, Mudlark has heard more concerns from neighbors about activities in the park, said Christina Lepri-Stringer, artistic director. She and executive director Ian Frank had a productive conversation with a neighbor, specifically explaining the short schedule of the Shakespeare program.

Cast and audience for Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” from the Mudlark Theater, Summer 2024. Credit: Mudlark Theatre

“We want to make sure that we continue to be good neighbors and maintain a positive relationship with the people who live near us,” Frank said.

I was delighted to learn that Mudlark was holding rehearsals and a performance of Shakespeare’s classic comedy Twelfth Night there in June.

Justis said of the park, whatever it is called, “It is a little treasure. I hope an article will do some good and spark new interest.”

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