Yuri Kochiyama was an activist who fought for the rights of POC communities. Kochiyama was born in 1921 in San Pedro, California but she spent her childhood in San Francisco. On December 7, 1941 the police came to Kochiyama’s house to take her father to a detainment center because he was speculated to be a potential threat from Japanese Security. He was detained for 6 weeks … Continue reading Y is for Yuri Kochiyama
Hazel Scott was a Pianist known for her ability to switch the moods of her music. She was especially good at jazz. Hazel Scott was born on June 11, 1920, in Trinidad, Spain. She started playing piano when she was three years old and had a natural talent for playing by ear. After moving to the U.S, she learned the Saxophone and joined Lin Hardin … Continue reading H is for Hazel Scott
Jovita Idar was a journalist, activist, and suffragist. Jovita was born in Laredo, Texas on September 7, 1885. She grew up surrounded by a lot of activism and journalism, which inspired her to advocate for women’s rights, including the right to vote. When she saw that many Mexican women didn’t know how to help in the women’s rights movement she founded and became the president … Continue reading Introducing Jovita Idar
Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner was a track and field athlete. Born on December 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, she started running at age 7 and won the Jesse Owen National Youth Games when she was 14. She attended California State University and later transferred to University of California where she was coached by Bob Kersee. Florence went to her first Olympic Games … Continue reading F is for Florence Griffith Joyner!!
The next stop of our virtual tour on the Rad Women Walking Tour brings us to a painting of Dolores Huerta. It was painted by Anna VanderLoon and is located on the corner of Division Ave. and Lyon St. Dolores Huerta is a leader in the American labor system. She was born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico. She has said that her … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part VII
This week on our virtual walk through the Rad Women Walking Tour, we’re taking a look at the painting of actor and comedian, Carol Burnett. It was painted by Kerry Rolewics and is located on Ionia Ave and Lyon street. Carol Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 26, 1933. She grew up during the Great Depression and she developed a love of … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part VI
Last week we took a look at the start of the Rad Women walking tour in downtown Grand Rapids. To continue in this theme, this week’s art tour is featuring the next stop. This piece is located on the corner of Lyon St. and Monroe Ave. and was painted by Emily Macdonald, a local artist. Pictured on the box is Billie Jean King, an accomplished … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part V
This piece is located on the corner of Monroe Ave. and Pearl st. It is the start of the Rad Women walking tour in DownTown Grand Rapids. It is a series of 26 paintings (A through Z) of famous women all done on the sides of electrical boxes around town! The project was undertaken in honor of International Women’s day and Women’s History Month in … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part IV
This surrealist mural of a robot holding a twig with its detached hand is painted on the side of Swanky’s Pizzeria, a couple of blocks from City. The building is located at 1300 Plainfield Avenue Northeast. Unlike many of the other murals we have featured, this artwork highlights the often adversarial relationship between nature and technology. It might even be reminiscent of Swedish artist Simon … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part III
This mural, which we will refer to as the Unicorn Mural, is located on the side of Central District Cyclery just down the street from City High Middle. The mural was painted by artist Elliot Chaltry, who specializes in brightly colored paintings of animals, both realistic and fictional, which often seem to burst from the canvas. He goes by the username @ELLIOTCHALTRY. You can view … Continue reading Virtual Tour of Grand Rapids Art: Part II
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