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Evanston Arts Council to Unveil "Explorer" Sculpture of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable
The official unveiling event will take place on Sunday, October 8 at 3 p.m. at the corner of Church Street and Orrington Avenue.
 EVANSTON, IL - The Evanston Arts Council has announced the arrival and unveiling of "Explorer," an eight-foot casted bronze sculpture of the face of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. The sculpture, created by artist Erik Blome, will have a temporary home on the northeast corner of Church Street and Orrington Avenue, adjacent to the Evanston Main Public Library.
The official unveiling of "Explorer", which is free and open to the public, will take place on Sunday, October 8, at 3 p.m. The event will include artist Erik Blome, Mayor Daniel Biss, community representatives, music by Gerald “Toto” Alfred, and snacks courtesy of Kizin Creole.
Born in Haiti, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable was a prosperous fur trader who settled along the north bank of the Chicago River in the 1780s, making him the earliest recorded non-Native resident in the area. He is widely regarded as the first permanent resident of Chicago and has been given the title “Founder of Chicago.”
“Explorer” is the work of the sculptor Erik Blome, a former Evanston resident. Blome is an accomplished sculptor whose works include life-size bronze sculptures of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thurgood Marshall. Notably, Blome's bronze bust sculpture of DuSable on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, commissioned by Evanston resident Lesly Benodin in 2009, served as inspiration for this new interpretation of DuSable.
The sculpture will remain in Evanston for one year, before moving on the other venues, including the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago.
In addition to the unveiling on October 8, the Evanston Arts Council is planning a series of engaging activities throughout the year. Stay informed by signing up for the Cultural Arts Newsletter.
Partnerships and Resources
For more information, call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.
Media Contact: Jessie Mayo
jmayo@cityofevanston.org
Phone: 847-448-8041
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