ArtPrize right time for unveiling Rosa Parks sculpture
David Czurak

One major art piece that will be unveiled during ArtPrize isn’t part of ArtPrize. But it still will draw a lot of attention during the arts competition.

The Rosa Parks Sculpture Committee will unveil and dedicate a commissioned and sculpted likeness of the civil rights activist at noon Thursday, Sept. 30, a key date for ArtPrize.

“It should be a wonderful day of programming. It will complement ArtPrize,” said Ingrid Scott-Weekley, managing director of administrative services for the city of Grand Rapids and committee member. “On Sept. 30, ArtPrize will be announcing their finalists.”

The committee selected Ed Dwight, owner of Ed Dwight Studios in Denver, from seven artists who bid on the project to create the sculpture of Rosa Parks. Scott-Weekley said Dwight will be on hand for the dedication. “He has done work in Michigan before,” she said. “He has done about 110 large sculptures.”

The ceremony will be held in Rosa Parks Circle, the city-owned park a few steps west of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, Scott-Weekley said the festivities would move indoors to the museum. The statue of Parks will be permanently located along Monroe Avenue on the western fringe of the park named in her honor.

The committee exceeded its fundraising goal of $350,000, with the final number reaching $370,000. The total includes an endowment of $150,000 that will go toward maintaining the statue. The committee spent two years working on the project.

The unveiling and dedication ceremony will cap a week-long tribute to Parks. For information on the four other scheduled events, call the city’s Information Center at 616-456-3000.