4313_Outdoor Art Inspirations - Walking Tour

Bust of Abraham Lincoln -
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Fanned Arena -
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Presented by the City of Grand Rapids
La Grande Vitesse La Grand Vitesse -
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A Walking Tour of Sculpture and Historic Buildings
in Downtown Grand Rapids.
Flying Wild Geese -
Veteran’s Memorial Pillars -
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Dissected Pyramid -
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1 - Indian Burial Mounds
Sasaki Associates, Inc., landscape architects, 1976, earth
Look for three large grass hills at the south end of Ah-Nab-Awen Park,
(off Pearl Street) near the Gerald R. Ford Museum.
Three distinct mounds symbolize those built nearly 2,000 years
ago by native tribes, often called the Hopewell. The three
mounds represent three tribes: Odawa (Ottawa); Ojibwa
(Chippewa); and Potawatomi. (Also see Indian Burial Mounds,
under “A Short Drive Away” on the inside panel.)
Take a walk
on the wild side.
2 - Man in Space
The Clock Tower -
Judd Nelson, sculptor, 1984, bronze
On the Gerald R. Ford Museum Plaza, 303 Pearl Street NW.
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“Creating the first heroic image of a man in the state of nongravity,” was the artist’s intent in replicating a virtually weightless astronaut. Even though the sculpture looks light and as if
the astronaut were floating, the actual weight of the piece is
over 600 pounds! Nelson used texture and color to make the all
metal sculpture look like rough cloth, glass, leather, and plastic.
H
it the trail starting at the south end of Ah-Nab-Awen Park (off
Pearl Street) near the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Explore the “nature”
side of the city as you walk through parks and along the Grand River in
search of landmarks and sculpture. Enjoy the scenery!
Building
Sculpture
3 - American Eagle
Point of Interest
Marshall Fredericks, sculptor, 1972, bronze
Walk past the Gerald R. Ford Museum, into the Betty Ford Garden.
Tour 1
A noble eagle prepares to take flight off of its pedestal.
Constructed with angular shapes, the eagle is very geometric.
This symbol of our country appears to be soaring, with the
hard lines and sharp edges representing speed. Look further
northwest for the gold and black fence past the Museum. The
cement vault inside the fence will be the final resting place for
Grand Rapids native and former President Gerald R. Ford.
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Michigan
Michigan
Division
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Grand River
Pearl
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Campau
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Hy Zelkowitz, sculptor, 1976, fiberglass and urethane foam
Walk to the north section of Ah-Nab-Awen Park near Bridge Street NW.
This giant “Pop Art”-style button won the Playground Sculpture
Competition of Festival in 1976. With the rugged activity of a
playtoy producing wear and tear on the sculpture, Lorrie’s Button
is one of the City’s most expensive sculptures to maintain.
Pearl
Monroe
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6 - The Great Flood of 1904
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Plaque on a boulder just before the bridge sidewalk.
Read about the Great Flood of 1904 where the mighty Grand
River rose 20.4 feet and the aftermath of this disaster.
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Commerce
Fulton
Ionia
Fulton
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Commissioned by the Indian Sculpture Advisory Committee of
elders from the Odawa, Ojibwa and Potawatomi tribes, this
sculpture represents the native people of this land.
5 - Lorrie’s Button
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Lyon
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Tom Hillis, sculptor, 1992, bronze
Walk northwest to a large plaque with information about Native
Americans, with the sculpture around the corner.
Ionia
Scribner
US 131 Expressway
4 - Nishnabe Gemaw
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Monroe
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Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
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Ottawa
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Douglas
Summer
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er
7 - “Old Man Winter” faces
8 - La Grande Vitesse
Alexander Calder, sculptor, 1969, steel, painted red
On Calder Plaza on Ottawa Avenue.
World famous sculptor and influential artist, Alexander Calder created La Grande Vitesse (which means “the great swiftness” or “the
grand rapids”) for this specific site. While initially controversial, it’s
now a source of local pride, standing 43’ high x 54’ long x 30’ wide
in Calder Plaza. The vibrant color and swift, smooth curves create a
dynamic and exciting piece. It was the first sculpture partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts through the “Works of
Art in Public Places” Program. A scale model of La Grande Vitesse
by Hetzer Hartsock is near the southeast corner of the plaza.
Artist Joseph Kinnebrew incorporated “the Calder” into the City’s
official logo. The world’s largest Calder painting covers the 127foot-square rooftop of the County Building and can be enjoyed
from the 9th floor of City Hall.
9 - Dissected Pyramid
Joseph Kinnebrew IV, sculptor, 1977, steel
On the north side of Calder Plaza, to the right of La Grande Vitesse.
Commissioned in memory of a prominent attorney, the pyramid
form is associated with funerary monuments, along with justice
and wisdom. The piece conveys the desire for perfection while
acknowledging the imperfection and unpredictability of man.
10 - Motu
Mark Di Suvero, sculptor, 1977, steel and rubber tire
In the courtyard behind the Federal Building; at the back of the plaza.
Derived from the City of Grand Rapids’ motto, “Motu Viget”
which means “strength through activity,” this sculpture’s title
means “motion.” The artist worked single-handedly with a
crane to place the beams on this 33-foot tall sculpture.
11 - The Clock Tower
Tower Pinkster Titus, architects, 2002
Look in front of the Kent County Courthouse (180 Ottawa Avenue, NW)
The Clock Tower rests on the former Grand Rapids City Hall site
(1888–1969), and contains one of the four faces from the old City
Hall clock. Aiming for an “ethereal quality,” the architects let the
clock face appear to float away from the corner poles, and the cables
winding around the poles provide a “temporary” symbolic quality.
12 - Michigan National
Bank Reliefs
Corrado Joseph Parducci, sculptor, 1926, terra cotta
On the Michigan National Bank building (at Monroe and Ionia NW)
A lone Indian watches the city from his lookout post. The
building’s terra cotta decorations depict the city’s early history
with other symbols such as animals, tools, and natural objects.
13 - “Ecliptic” on
Rosa Parks Circle
Artist Unknown
Look closely at the front facade of Old’s Manor (201 Michigan Street NW).
From the south side of Michigan Avenue, the wonderful ornamental faces
decorating the side of the building can be seen.
Maya Lin, architect / sculptor, 2001, concrete
Walk through the center of the Park (at Monroe Avenue and Monroe
Center); observe the water fountain, amphitheater, and the steam fountain.
The "Old Man Winter" faces are relief sculptures (which project
figures or forms from a flat background), protruding from the building as if he were blowing a cold north wind. Or perhaps they are a
representation of Father Time blowing away the years?
Both a sculpture and a public park, “Ecliptic” on Rosa Parks Circle
incorporates three forms of water: liquid, vapor, and solid (in the
winter months). The 110 x 80-foot pad of concrete becomes an ice
rink; embedded in the concrete are 146 fiber-optic lights which
depict the night sky over Grand Rapids on January 1, 2000.
14 - McKay Tower
At Monroe Center, Monroe Avenue, and Pearl Street.
The McKay Tower stands where the first frame house in the
Grand River Valley stood. In 1915 the two-story house was renovated and reopened as National Bank. Between 1926 and
1927, an additional 14 floors were built.
15 - Sweet’s Motel / Pantlind
Hotel / Amway Grand Plaza
Warren and Weston, architects (northwest section of the building)
The historic section of the Amway Grand Plaza is on the corner of
Monroe Avenue NW and Pearl Street.
Sweet’s Motel opened in 1869 and was one of the city’s first
electrically lit buildings. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1902 as
the Pantlind Hotel. Designed with high archways, entrances, and
unique ornamental carvings, the hotel is considered “Renaissance
Revival” architecture. It was renovated and expanded again in the
late 1970s, opening as the Amway Grand Plaza .
16 - Civic Auditorium Reliefs
Corrado Joseph Parducci, sculptor, 1926, limestone
Walk past the Amway Grand; turn left on the cobblestone road; go
toward the river, with the Auditorium on the right (227 Lyon St, NW).
The Civic Auditorium reliefs are beautiful examples of “Art Deco”
style, inspired by those of ancient Greece and Rome. Multiple
symbols and signs, including the city and state seals, are on the
building, with a shell and wave motif at the roofline. Take note of
the figurative reliefs at each end, representing music and fine arts.
17 - The Log Jam
Plaque on the Pearl Street Bridge and the Amway Grand Plaza.
One of the most devastating events in Grand Rapids’ history
was the great log jam of 1883. Although no lives were lost, the
estimated losses were $500,000 (equivalent to over $9 million
in today’s dollars), damaging bridges and roads within the city.
18 - Untitled
Don Reitz, sculptor, 1983, clay
Amway Grand Plaza’s main entrance walls (187 Monroe Ave. NW).
Festive and colorful, this abstract piece covers both walls of the
Amway Grand Plaza’s main entrance.
19 - Fluoride Memorial
Stephen Pierpoint, landscape architect, 1995, granite
Along the riverwalk between Pearl and Fulton Streets.
This six-pillar monument commemorates Grand Rapids as the
first city in the country which fluoridated its drinking water.
20 - River’s Edge
Environmental Sculpture
21 - The River’s Edge
James Clover, sculptor, 1989, steel, painted white
Cross the “Blue Bridge” to the Grand Valley State University Campus.
A mixture of organic subjects and geometric forms, this piece
expresses nature and life by the river. View this sculpture from
multiple angles; each side showcases the piece differently as the
shapes and forms interact with each other.
22 - Dawn’s Gate III
Russell Thayer, sculptor, 2000, bronze
Walk to the front of Grand Valley State University’s campus on Fulton
Street to Lubber’s Garden; look through the gates.
This sculpture resides in the center of a gated garden. Although
the view is somewhat obstructed, the sculpture can still be seen
from the sidewalk. By looking through the garden’s front gates,
another set of “sculptural gates” can be observed.
23 - Embrace
Joseph Kinnebrew IV, sculptor, 2000, bronze
Enter the Grand Valley State University Campus from Fulton Street; go
through the courtyard; go out the archway to Mount Vernon Street.
The River’s Edge -
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The sculpture is comprised of two organic bronze elements, one
surrounding the other. The forms embrace each other and are
embraced by the walls of Grand Valley’s central courtyard.
24 - Flying wild Geese
Marshall Fredericks, sculptor, designed in 1955, cast in 1981,
installed in 1994, bronze
Behind the Public Museum of Grand Rapids (272 Pearl Street NW).
Two geese about to take flight are captured and nestled among
the shrubs and grasses of a natural and peaceful space.
25 - First MillStones
Along the riverwalk behind the Public Museum of Grand Rapids (272
Pearl Street NW). Walk toward the river; turn left; follow the riverwalk
a few feet; look for the stones on the left.
Man in Space -
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From the first operational grist mill in the city, these stones
were reportedly brought here by the federal government for
Native American farmers and settlers to grind corn into flour.
When the mill was replaced by larger operations, the stones
were used by John Ball as a horseblock at his home.
26 - The memorial Bell
McNeely and Co., purchased in 1878, installed in 1888, cast alloy
Walk up the cement steps to the front lawn of the Public Museum of
Grand Rapids (272 Pearl Street NW).
After City Hall was demolished in 1969, this bell from the
clock tower was purchased by the Grand Rapids Firefighters
Union Local 366 (in 1978) and dedicated to all firefighters who
died in the line of duty. In 1995, the bell was donated to the
Public Museum and moved to this site.
Michael Singer, sculptor; Sasaki Assoc. Inc., landscape architects,
1995, granite and stone.
At the end of the riverwalk on the east bank of the Grand River; best
viewed from the “Blue Bridge” over the Grand River.
27 - Apollo Space Capsule
Composed of granite, local riverbed boulders, and indigenous
plants, this sculpture transforms as the sun moves over it, with
flickering light enhancing the color, and shadow forms moving
over the granite blocks. 600 feet long and 200 tons in weight, it
was carefully engineered to withstand flooding and blend into
the landscape, encompassed in vines and other plantlife.
The space capsule was originally used for recovery training during
the joint United States-Soviet Union Apollo-Soyuz missions.
Donated and sealed in 1976, the space capsule became a time
capsule holding items such as newspapers, photos, letters, a
pacemaker, skateboard, and Grand Rapids made furniture. It
will be opened during America’s tricentennial on July 4, 2076.
On the front lawn of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids (272 Pearl
Street NW).
American Eagle -
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The bright red color of the 28-foot tall sculpture symbolizes
passion, love, and life. The vertical arrangement expresses the
inspiration of the piece as it reaches toward the sky. A gift commissioned by Fountain Street Church and donated to Grand
Rapids Community College, it stands as a reminder of the link
between church and state.
Constructed by a popular American sculptor, the bust of
Thomas D. Gilbert honors a businessman who came to Grand
Rapids in 1855 and held many civic positions here. Known for
his generosity, Gilbert personally tended the park. He kept the
cattle and swine out of the park; he also built the walks and
planted some of the trees that are seen today in the park.
In 1883, a small group of ladies who enjoyed studying and performing music met to form a music society and make history.
This Renaissance Revival recital hall was the first in the nation
built by a women’s music club. Look at the second story for the
the musical instruments reflecting the Society’s interests. Some
façade and decorated reliefs from the Metz Building (destroyed
in 1971) were preserved on the south side of Saint Cecilia’s.
L - Peacocks
Artist Unknown, 1930, terra cotta
At the top of the Willard Building (at East Fulton and Jefferson SE).
Exquisitely colored peacocks punctuate the roofline and serve as
a window to look back into another era, as terra cotta reliefs
were no longer constructed on buildings after the depression.
M - Masonic Temple
Osgood and Osgood, architects, 1914-1915
At 233 East Fulton Street.
A Classic Revival structure, the Masonic Temple is West
Michigan’s largest and most imposing temple. It is faced in
granite, buff brick, and terra cotta; the building contains
a ballroom, banquet hall, theater, and lodge rooms.
W VU
Pearl
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Founded in 1869, the Ladies Literary Club built this clubhouse
to offer lectures, theatrical performances and concerts in a 400seat auditorium. Completed in November 1887, it cost $6,000,
and is one of Michigan’s first women’s clubhouses. Considered
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, look at the top of the
building for a small square relief with two dolphins swimming
through a sea of foliage, which is believed to cost $25 when constructed. The interior features a Tiffany stained-glass window.
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S - Civil War Monument
Take note of: the portraits of Lincoln, Grant, Farragut, and
Garfield; famous quotes of Lincoln, Jackson, Grant, and Garfield;
the first monument to recognize women’s contributions to the
Civil War. Dedicated in 1885, the monument’s unveiling boasted
a two-mile parade through downtown, which drew more than
3,000 veterans and 30,000 spectators. When the statue’s original
construction of white bronze turned a Confederate silver-gray, a
local uproar led the monument to be painted a Union blue.
Barclay
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William G. Robinson, Architect, 1887, terra cotta
Above the main entrance, located at 61 Sheldon Boulevard SE.
Leon Conquard, Sculptor (attributed), 1885, white bronze
At Monument Park, 2 North Division.
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Lyon
This three-room, Greek-Revival style, and former law office is the
sole surviving structure of Grand Rapids from the 1830s. Over
150 years ago, it stood on the northeast corner of Monroe and
Ottawa and later at Ionia and Coldbrook where it was a residence.
R - Ladies Literary Club
and Dolphin Reliefs
A
Lafayette
and Saint Cecilia Reliefs
Henry Ives Cobb, architect, 1894; Artist unknown, 1894, terra cotta
Reliefs are on the front and south side of the building (24 Ransom NE).
Early development company, architects, c. 1836
At Lincoln Place, State Street Park.
Barclay
K - Saint Cecilia Music Hall
Q - Calkin’s Law Office
Ransom
Take special note of the rare Tiffany stained-glass windows gracing the second floor sanctuary. One of the few churches in the
country to have a complete set of Tiffany windows, in 1904
they cost $600 each, more than $12,000 each in today’s dollars.
Crescent
Crescent
Bostwick
A. Barrows, architect, 1869, brick
East of Veteran’s Memorial Park, across East Park Street.
Tour 2
N O
Lafayette
Joseph Kinnebrew IV, sculptor, 1999, steel
Located across from Fountain Street Church on Fountain Street NE.
Lorado Taft, sculptor, 1895, bronze
At the northeast side of Veteran’s Memorial Park (between Fulton,
Sheldon, and Library Streets) .
Congregational Church
Depending on the viewer’s angle, the shapes of the piece change
to give an impression of flight. From studying birds and prehistoric animals in flight, the artist creates motion in his work.
Jefferson
C - Aspiration of Inspiration
G - Bust of Thomas D. Gilbert
Originally intended to be a full-length statue replacing the
Soldiers’ Monument, the gaunt and brooding bust of Abraham
Lincoln was commissioned instead and placed here. When the
Calkin’s law office was moved here in the 1970s, the bust of the
famous lawyer was turned around to face the building.
John W. Parker, sculptor, 1981, plate steel, painted dark red
Pearl Street lawn of The Grand Rapids Art Museum.
East Park
This 60-foot frieze depicts Grand Rapids’ history from a forest to
the arrival of European settlers. Details include industries such as
lumbering, milling, blacksmithing, furniture-making, transportation, and area farming. Grand Rapids Public Schools students
went to Italy and assisted the sculptor in executing this piece.
An adaptation of Renaissance architecture, the Grand Rapids
Public Library’s Main Branch was a gift to the City by Martin
Antoine Ryerson, a prominent Chicago industrialist who was
also a grandson of one of the city’s founders. Designated with
irreplaceable value or importance to the country, this building
was rated as a “Group A Landmark Building” by Johnson,
Johnson, and Roy, Inc. The intricate ornamentation along the
rooftop elegantly sets off the columns and tall arch windows.
Extensively renovated in 2002-3, the main entrance was
returned to its original location at the south end of the building,
showcasing the marble and opulence of the original entrance.
J - First (Park)
Adolph A. Weinman, sculptor, c. 1913, bronze
At Lincoln Place, State Street Park (State Street and Washington SE).
V - Night Flight
LaGrave
Lumen Winter, sculptor, 1976, marble
On the Grand Rapids Community College Ford Fieldhouse, at Bostwick
Avenue facing Lyon Street NE.
Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidege, architects, 1903-1904
At 60 Library Plaza NE.
P - Bust of Abraham Lincoln
The soaring movement of a flying kite inspires this piece’s
weightless appearance. The sculpture’s folded pieces may be
influenced by origami. Its surface planes enclose an airy space,
while folded appendages add a sense of hovering motion. This
piece challenges the nature of steel, and displays the artist’s
sense of spatial kinetics. The steel used corrodes evenly,
leaving the piece a rich brown.
Library
Plaza
B - The Legend of Grand Rapids
F - Grand Rapids Public Library
Designed in the spirit of Egyptian architecture, the pillars symbolize freedom and hope. The pylons are inscribed with the
names of the dead from World Wars I and II, the Korean War,
and two names from the Vietnam War.
Jasha Green, sculptor, 1977, steel
Lyon Street lawn of The Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Sheldon
Growing up in Grand Rapids, Czarnopys cites local hunting trips
where he studied animals and the cycle of the seasons as an inspiration for his work. Using fiberglass casts of his body covered
with tree bark, he created the torso that’s girdled in the tree. The
anthropomorphic figures he creates explore the relationship
between man and nature. Working with live models and scientific drawings, his work intertwines human and natural forms at
times to the point where the two are indistinguishable.
Ralph Demmon, architect, 1926, granite
In the center of Veteran’s Memorial Park.
X - Floor Kite XIV
Characteristically forming ribbon and fan shapes, Katzen’s
pieces contain rhythmic curves, emphasizing how parts work
together to make up a whole. Note the two different kinds of
steel used to emphasize the diversity between the parts.
Sheldon
Tom Czarnopys, sculptor, 1997, bronze with patina
On Bostwick Avenue, outside of the Grand Rapids Community College’s
Calkins Science Building.
I - Veteran’s Memorial Pillars
Originally opened in September of 1879, the former Federal
Building and Post Office was claimed to be the first fireproof
building in the city. The structural frame is steel, concrete covers
the floors, and the roof was once a slate surface. A jail cell for
holding prisoners awaiting trial can still be found in the building.
Division
A - Girdled Figure
After a fire destroyed the original structure in 1917, Fountain
Street Church was rebuilt in Italian Romanesque architecture
with 6th Century Byzantine art. Eleven stained-glass, double-set
windows are styled after the Chartres Cathedral windows in
France to convey “one harmonious whole.” On the building’s
exterior (above the main entrance on Fountain Street), observe
the Relief with the verse, “Suffer the little children to come
unto me and forbid them not,” Luke 18:16. The foliage framing the Relief, which includes honeysuckle and acanthus, represent resurrection and heaven.
One of this country’s favorite poets, the bust of Longfellow was
intentionally placed with close proximity to the Public Library.
This magnificent Italian villa was built as a home for hotel-owner
Martin Sweet, with a cupola, wide roof overhangs, ornate cornices,
and narrow windows. Sweet went broke in the Panic of 1893 and
sold his hotel to J. Boyd Pantlind who rebuilt the hotel, and what
was rebuilt as the Pantlind Hotel still stands today, known as the
Amway Grand Plaza. Sweet’s home was once a music school and
boarding school. The Women’s City Club bought it in 1924.
James K. Taylor, architect, 1909
Currently The Grand Rapids Art Museum, 155 N Division.
Lila Katzen, sculptor, 1980, steel
Pearl Street lawn of The Grand Rapids Art Museum (155 N Division).
Division
Multiple architects, 1924; Artist Unknown, 1922, limestone
Over the door entrance, 24 Fountain Street NE.
At the northwest side of Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Architect Unknown, 1856
At 254 East Fulton.
W - Former Federal Building
and U.S. Post Office
U - Fanned Arena
Ionia
and “Suffer the Little
Children” Relief
Wadsworth Longfellow
O - Women’s City Club
Commerce
E - Fountain Street Church
H - Bust of Henry
Ottawa
Stylized human forms appear to be in conversation with each
other in this modern sculpture. Smooth curves and the flat blue
color create the abstract human form.
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Ionia
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Carl Green, sculptor, 2000, steel
Across from the Fountain Street Church on Fountain Street NE.
Calkin’s Law Office -
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Civil War Monument -
D - Conversations
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Originally a wooden frame structure at the northwest corner of
Crescent and Division, St. Mark’s was relocated here in 1848.
Due to alterations throughout the years, this Gothic-Revival style
church now forms a Latin cross.
Monroe
tep out and see the history of Grand Rapids
as you wind through the city and past historic
buildings and monuments. Contrasting the history,
catch a glimpse of the city’s modern side expressed
through sculpture.
Conversations -
In 1845, Abraham W. Pike built this outstanding example of
Greek Revival architecture. The main façade features a fullheight tetrastyle Doric portico. In 1924, the building became
the Grand Rapids Art Museum, but it is currently maintained
by the Grand Rapids Art Association.
Monroe
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Architect Unknown, 1848
At 134 N Division.
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Floor Kite XIV -
T - St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Abraham W. Pike, settler, 1845
At 230 East Fulton Street.
Ottawa
Take a stroll
down memory lane.
N - Abraham W. Pike House
Washington
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Sixth Street Park
The following are at the entrance to John Ball Park Zoo, 1300 West Fulton.
Drive north on Monroe Avenue; the park (647 Monroe NW) is on the left.
See the map for more downtown sculptures not included on the tour routes.
John Ball Statue
Kid Katwalk
Lions
Pompeo L. Coppini, sculptor, 1925, bronze
Joseph Kinnebrew IV, sculptor, 1975, steel
World traveler John Ball came to Grand Rapids in 1836 as a land
speculator. At his death, Ball left 40 acres which became the heart
of John Ball Park and Zoo. The statue was created from a sketch of
Mr. Ball by Mrs. Gertrude Vande Mark (a local artist) and photographs of Ball’s grandchildren to incorporate into the sculpture.
Commissioned for Festival in 1975, these intertwining and linear beams were constructed for children to play on during the
arts celebration and moved here when that year’s Festival ended.
Bear
Remember... sculptures are sometimes relocated,
Mark DeVries, sculptor, 1953
and new ones are always arriving.
Captain Charles E. Belknap
Be prepared for changes and keep watch for new ones.
This little bear stands guard at the entrance to the Zoo. Look
on top of a front entrance post for this little guy.
Orange-ganic Domino
DTE Energy’s 20 millionth tree
Notice the Rosebud tree with a plaque nearby celebrating the 20
Millionth tree planted in 2002 by DTE. It represents their commitment to helping the environment through tree planting.
Other Locations
These sculptures at various parks and locations throughout Grand Rapids.
Robbin L. Crawford, sculptor, 1977, steel
This oversized domino won the “Playground Sculpture Competition”
for Festival in 1977. Once orange, the now blue domino has five
holes punched through it encouraging children to play.
See more sculpture, historic buildings, and points of interest
that are just a short drive
Recreform
from the downtown area.
Mary Gardner Preminger, sculptor, 1974, steel
Leonard
Spinner
Sixth
Street
Park
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Grand
River
“Lions”
Wealthy
The Hiker
Theodore Alice Ruggles Kitson, sculptor, c. 1927, bronze
At the intersection of State and Cherry Streets SE, in Foster Park.
This “romanticized” treatment of the soldier represents the fight
for freedom and humanity during the Spanish American War. The
cruciform plaque on the boulder represents the freed colonies of
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipine Islands. Approximately 50
castings of the hiker can be found throughout the United States,
with two located nearby in Kalamazoo and Lansing.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is home to over
100 sculptures, including the 24-foot-tall DaVinci Horse. A listing
of some outdoor sculpture in downtown Grand Rapids and the
surrounding areas can be found online at: www.sculpturesitesgr.org.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s first major commission in Michigan, the
Meyer May House was built for local clothier Meyer S. May
and his wife. This two-story, T-plan, prairie style house has a
shallowly tipped roof which was originally covered with red
tiles. The house emphasizes a horizontal quality as the tan brick
is laid with racked horizontal joints. Wright designed the home’s
windows, rugs, and furniture. Emphasizing his theory of organic
architecture, Wright carefully sited the house to allow maximum
southern exposure for the living room windows and skylights and
to create a spacious yard for the perennial gardens. Everything in
the house works together to create a unified and harmonious
whole–to enhance the interior and to draw the outdoors
and nature into the house.
Robert Morris, sculptor, 1974, earth, asphalt, and grass
Look on the hill beyond the baseball fields. The “X’” is best viewed from
a distance, and elevated places throughout the neighborhood are ideal.
This earthwork was Morris’ first in the United States and is an
environmental piece consisting of two asphalt walkways that
cross on the hill. While encouraging the relationship between
man and nature, Morris was also interested in how works of art
change in time and through seasons. He felt that this site was
very much “in tune with his concerns for outside works”- which
is those that cooperate and do not become applied objects.
Eastern
Madison
Meyer May
House
Division
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US-131
Wealthy
The Hiker
This piece tests the strength of gravity. A narrow, leaning base
holds up the larger top half of the sculpture. The hard edges and
contrast of straight lines and curves create a sleek abstract piece.
Meyer May House
Grand Rapids Project “X”
“The Hiker”
Anthony Stehlik, sculptor, 1998
At the parking lot entrance, near the corner of Weston and Market Avenue.
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Sculpture Park
The Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls inspired this bust of
Captain Belknap. A prominent Grand Rapidian, Belknap was
involved in many aspects of politics and industry. Once the
Commissioner for the Boy Scouts locally, he stands proudly
wearing their uniform.
“Spinner”
Spinner
Belknap Park
Horace F. Colby, sculptor, 1931, bronze
Fulton
Joseph Kinnebrew IV, sculptor, 1974, concrete
Located at 560 Front Street. Drive from Bridge Street north on Scribner
Avenue NW, then east on Front Street NW.
This Coliseum opened as a skating rink in 1910, but was also
built to accommodate conventions, dances, and exhibitions. The
entrance’s ornamentally sculpted arch, adorned with garlands and
a lion’s head on each side, is reminiscent of ancient Roman
sports arenas and add character to this building.
The “Fish Ladder” was built to help fish navigate upstream
and past the dam to spawn. This sculptural architecture creates
an environment for people to watch the fish, contributes beauty
and ecological benefits, and assists the fish struggling upstream.
Captain Charles E. Belknap
Fulton
Fulton
John Ball Zoo
Frederick Meijer
Garden Sculpture Park
The Grand River Sculpture
and fish ladder
Artist Unknown, 1910, terra cotta
Located on the Heystek Building at 106-14 Commerce Avenue SW.
Another fun playground sculpture created for Festival in 1974,
this piece’s brightly-colored bold geometric shapes are appealing
to children. Check out the other four playground sculptures too!
Near the baseball fields in Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook NE (at Division/
Plainfield). From the Art Museum, drive north on Division, turn east on
Coldbrook NE, and south on Belknap NE .
Division
US-131
Monroe
Fish
Ladder
Park
I-96
Eastern
Belknap Park
Downtown Streets
John Ball Park
1000 East Beltline NE
Indian Burial Mounds
Located all along Indian Mounds Drive.
About 2,000 years ago mound-building people, today often
called the Hopewell, lived in the Upper Great Lakes region.
Each summer Hopewell from villages in the Grand River
Valley gathered beside the river at the rapids to trade, socialize,
conduct religious rituals, and construct burial mounds. The
remains of important men and women, young and old, were
buried beneath the mounds with ceremonial bowls, weapons
and tools, along with shells, copper and silver.
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect, 1909
450 Madison Avenue SE.
“Indian Burial Mounds”
Sculpture
Building
Meyer May House
Point of Interest
This map is not to scale; only major roads and highways are displayed.
Side streets and minor roads are not shown on the map.
The Grand River Sculpture and Fish Ladder
Mckay Tower -
14
A special thank you to everyone who contributed to
the completion of this project.
The Walking Tour of Sculpture and Historic Buildings in Downtown Grand Rapids was published
with the assistance of many individuals, from the artists and architects represented throughout the
tour, to the historians who shared their knowledge, to the designers, writers, printers, and all who
assisted in creating this tour and publication. Most sincere thanks to Amy Rakoski who coordinated all the pieces and designed this beautiful guide for everyone to enjoy the art of Grand Rapids!
Outdoor Art Inspirations was funded through generous donations from:
City of Grand Rapids
Downtown Development
Authority
Reference Materials
Fountain Street Church -
E
Grand Rapids Public Library -
F
The following materials were used to discover, locate and track down information on the tour:
Website: www.timberlanefarm.com/downtown.html
Video: Outdoor Sculpture in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2000 by Donald Upp, Grand Rapids Public Library.
Book: Outdoor Sculpture in Grand Rapids. Fay L. Hendry, 1980, printed by Thomson-Shore Inc.,
Dexter, MI. ISBN 0-936412-00-3
Book: A Grand Rapids Sampler. Gordon L. Olson, 1992, printed by West Michigan Printing.,
Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN 0-9617708-3X