Skip to Main Content

St. Charles, Illinois: Sculpture with Puns

A sculpture by artist Jim Jenkins titled "Read Them Like a Book" consists of metal human silhouettes filled with word and symbol puns: the symbol for Pi is in the stomach, etc.

Address:
S. 5th Ave., St. Charles, IL
Directions:
In front of the St. Charles Public Library. The statue is on the east side of Hwy 25/S. 5th Ave. just south of its intersection with Hwy 64/E. Main St.
Admission:
Free
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Sculpture with Puns

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Book People.

Punny Sculpture

"Read Them Like a Book" is a sculpture created by local artist James Jenkins; it consists of two side-by-side stylized human figures made from thick sheets of polished stainless steel. Cut out of the figures are various inspiring and funny "inscriptions." Since I'm a low-brow sort of guy, I like the puns. For example, H2O is on one knee ("water on the knee"), the mathematical symbol for Pi is in the tummy (because that's where pie ends up when you eat it), and the word "NOTE" is on a foot ("footnote").

My favorite is the chemical element symbol "Pb" on a posterior -- the sculpture obviously needs to "get the lead out" but that'll be difficult because stainless steel doesn't contain appreciable amounts of lead.

[John Takao Collier, 04/25/2014]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Humpty Dumpty in Art ParkHumpty Dumpty in Art Park, St. Charles, IL - < 1 mi.
Easy Chair GraveEasy Chair Grave, Geneva, IL - 1 mi.
1893 World's Fair Viking Ship1893 World's Fair Viking Ship, Geneva, IL - 2 mi.
In the region:
Klairmont Kollections Museum, Chicago, IL - 29 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Illinois Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings