'Radiant Eddy' Sculpture Installed at Future Elk Grove Library as Old Town Revitalization Efforts Continue

A new public art installation now stands outside the future home of the Elk Grove Library, adding another visual landmark to the city's effort to transform Historic Old Town into a regional destination.

The sculpture, titled "Radiant Eddy," was created by Maine artist Aaron T. Stephan and has been installed in the plaza outside the new Elk Grove Library at the southwest corner of Waterman Road and Elk Grove Boulevard. The location serves as the eastern gateway to Historic Old Town Elk Grove.

The artwork commemorates Harriet Eddy, the educator and librarian credited with helping establish California's county free library system and founding Elk Grove's first library.

The sculpture features 32 traditional streetlights arranged in a sweeping, organic form intended to suggest movement. While the poles resemble the streetlights commonly found throughout Elk Grove, together they create what the artist describes as a dynamic expression of community, growth and civic life.

"In this way, Radiant Eddy celebrates both Harriet Eddy and the Elk Grove branch, reminding us of the importance of libraries and inspiring us to find beauty in our everyday surroundings," Stephan said in a statement released by the city.

At night, the illuminated sculpture creates what Stephan described as a stream of light rising from the plaza, serving as a beacon for motorists and pedestrians approaching the library.

"The work's playful glow identifies Elk Grove Library as a place of growth and wonder," Stephan said. "Radiant Eddy suggests that the ordinary can become extraordinary — and that, with a shift in perspective, the ordinary may already be extraordinary."

Stephan has completed numerous public art commissions throughout the United States, including installations at Music City Center, Tampa International Airport and San Diego International Airport, as well as museums and arts centers across the country.

The new library, one of 28 branches operated by the Sacramento Public Library, is scheduled to open in fall 2026. Although the building has not yet opened, the sculpture is already accessible for public viewing day and night.

The installation also aligns with Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her city council's vision for Historic Old Town Elk Grove. During remarks at a city council meeting over three years ago, Singh-Allen said the district has the potential to become a major tourism destination (See video below).

"As a statewide commissioner for Visit California, I know firsthand the importance of brand awareness and destination marketing," Singh-Allen said. "Our historic district has the potential of being sort of the Gaslamp for our region... We're seeing that revitalization, that buzz, that factor of, 'Wow, let's go to Old Town and look at all these great restaurants.'"

Singh-Allen's comparison referenced the Gaslamp Quarter, one of Southern California's best-known entertainment and tourism districts.