The Cliff Dwellers of Chicago and the Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee (IBWCAC) will host a fundraiser on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 to benefit the development of a monument to honor the life and accomplishments of the historic Ida B. Wells — journalist, teacher, anti-lynching crusader, women's rights activist and civil rights pioneer. The event is being underwritten in part by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.
World-renowned artist Richard Hunt, who is Chicago based, was commissioned by the IBWCAC to create the monument. Mr. Hunt will be featured at the March 7th cocktail reception where he will give an overview of his vision for the historic monument which will be located in the Bronzeville neighborhood where Ida B. Wells lived, worked and raised a family from 1895 - 1931. Once installed on the median strip on 37th & Langley, the monument will be donated by IBWCAC to the City of Chicago's Public Art Collection. With its installation, Chicago will join the very few U.S. cities that honor through monumental sculpture an African-American woman.
The event will take place at The Cliff Dwellers Club located at 200 S. Michigan Avenue on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 5:30pm — 7:30pm. The cost is $150.00 per person of which $125.00 will go towards the cost of the monument and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is a 501(c)(3) organization and is acting as the fiscal agent for this project.
By attending this event and supporting the project you'll be contributing to the initial $300,000 needed for the creation of the monument. To date ten percent of the funds have been raised. The goal is to complete the project in 2012 to coincide with the 150th birthday of Ida B. Wells who lived from 1862 — 1931.
The Cliff Dwellers, which was founded in 1907, is a private club and functions as a non-profit organization for men and women either professionally engaged in, or who support, the fine arts and the performing arts.
IBWCAC is composed of representatives of former Ida B. Wells public housing resident leadership, UJIMA, Inc., the office of 4th Ward Ald. Will Burns, The Habitat Company, Chicago Housing Authority, North Kenwood-Oakland Conservation Community Council, the Oakwood Shores Development Team (The Community Builders and Granite Development Corporation), Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI), City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, and Ida B. Wells' family members.
For more details about the event and how to register call 773-382-6115, or email info@idabwellsmonument.org .
