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Support the Ida B. Wells Monument

Black Women's Blueprint is partnering with Michelle Duster to Erect the Ida B. Wells Monument

A monumental sculpture accompanied by supportive art pieces will be located in a park-like setting on the Langley Boulevard median, just south of 37th Street in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. The Langley Boulevard median lies at the heart of the Oakwood Shores community, on the former site of the Ida B. Wells public housing development.

The Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee has partnered with the Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI). to commission the creation of a sculptured monument that will celebrate Ida B. Wells’ legacy and help increase public awareness of her important work within the Civil Rights movement. The sculpture will be created by Richard Hunt, a Chicago native and world-renowned artist. The abstract sculpture capturing the artist’s vision of Ida B. Wells and her legacy will be at least 20 feet tall, and will have a large base upon which an image of Ida B. Wells and excerpts of her writings will be engraved. Upon completion, this monument will be donated to the City of Chicago’s Public Art Collection.

As a second phase of the project, smaller, interactive art pieces will be commissioned to allow the public to experience the work of Ida B. Wells in a reflective manner. While a precise description of the project awaits the artist’s conception, additional elements may include a timeline of key events related to Ms. Wells’ causes and accomplishments, occasional seating along the pathway in the Langley median, or boulevard signposts or similar features with a historical narrative and illustrations.

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