On the Main Line, sculptures can be seen outside office buildings and public places such as libraries, on college campuses and in community sites.
The work Helios Flame, created by sculptor Harold Kimmelman of Wayne, is surrounded by trees, a flower garden and a small duck pond. It has been part of the Sun Co.'s Radnor Corporate Center since 1976.
"It's an area where people can recharge their batteries, brainstorm for solutions to problems or hold outdoor conferences," said Warren Weiner, spokesman for the corporate center.
Weiner said the Sun Co., which has its headquarters at the center, wanted to create an atmosphere where people could walk away from office pressures.
The idea caught on. In the last 15 years, suburban businesses and communities have been adding sculptures at buildings to enhance aesthetic appeal.
Building tenants, joggers, weekend strollers and anyone else can enjoy the Main Line's outdoor museum of art at their leisure.
But the move toward including artwork in development plans has been slow in the area.
Terry H. Woodman, assistant township manager in Tredyffrin, said hundreds of development plans have gone through the township for approval in the last couple of years, but very few included plans for sculptures.
"The movement for sculpture began more in the urban areas, where a percentage of the building cost is spent on artwork for the public," Woodman said.
A federal law requires some spending on art for federal buidings. Philadelphia and other cities have spending requirements for public art at buildings. But on the Main Line, there are no such ordinances.
"In the suburban areas, the focus has been on landscaping and trying to preserve as much of the land as possible."
But Woodman said that in addition to being concerned with trees, plantings, access roads and parking lots, some developers are beginning to see the advantages of artwork.
