For release October 6, 2021
Unified Civic Monuments Project
Media contact: unifiedmonuments@gmail.com, 269.925.6523
Benton Harbor, Mich. – The Unified Civic Monuments Project (UCMP) has identified four artist candidates to design four new monuments in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph over the course of the next two years. The final artist selected will create and place two complementary monuments, one in each city, recognizing civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An additional monument in each city, will honor a historic figure specific to that city.
On Juneteenth, 2021 a Request for Proposals was released nationwide resulting in letters of interest and qualifications from 13 artists. Artist proposals were reviewed by the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Arts & Culture Social Justice Group, partners and advocates of the UCMP. Among the pool of candidates, four were selected and have accepted the invitation to submit formal proposals. Artist proposals will outline their vision for the project including further detail about why the artist is interested in the work and how they will propose it. The proposal will include written responses, images, and initial concepts.
Candidates will submit formal proposals to the group mid-October. Proposals will be reviewed with an eye towards creativity of approach and how the realized artworks will invite viewers to interact with them, how they best capture the spirit of the historic figures, and how they may interact with one another between the two cities.
The Unified Civic Monuments Project will publicly announce its artist selection by Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2022.
Artist Candidates
Martin Dawe
Atlanta, Georgia
Jane DeDecker
Iowa
Brent Harris
Kalamazoo, Michigan
https://www.facebook.com/Brent-Harris-Sculpture-125905857454211
David Alan Clark and Harold Woodridge
Wyoming/Indiana
Unified Civic Monument Project
The Unified Civic Monuments Project is led by the founders of the African American History & Literature Gallery, with the support of Krasl Art Center, Lake Michigan College, Berrien Community Foundation, the BH-SJ Arts & Culture Social Justice Group, and the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. More information can be found at unifiedmonuments.org
Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Arts & Culture Social Justice Group
The Benton Harbor – St. Joseph Arts & Culture Social Justice Group stands in solidarity with community-wide efforts supporting, advocating and promoting social justice within the cities of Benton Harbor & St. Joseph, Michigan. It is our commitment as cultural institutions and individuals to utilize our unique resources to support this work – this may include special programs, space use, materials and expertise.
We interpret social justice to mean that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social justice rights and opportunities.
Committee Co-Chairs:
Commissioner Laura Goos, St. Joseph
Commissioner Edward Isom, Benton Harbor
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