August 3, 2005

* Please scroll to the bottom for photos *

Alderman Dorothy Tillman Launches Celebration of the Chicago Jazz & Blues Cultural Music District with Historic Unveiling of Four Twenty-Five Foot Bronze Sculptures Depicting Black Music by Noted Sculptor & Visual Artist Ed Dwight, Jr.

Stunningly Impressive Sculptures Depict Guitar – Saxophone – Trumpet and The Singer

On Friday, July 29, 2005 at 12:00 noon, at the historic intersection of 47th Street and King Drive, the Honorable Dorothy Tillman, Alderman – 3rd Ward and the board of directors of Tobacco Road, Inc. (TRI), were joined by Mayor Richard M. Daley, local elected officials, members of the Chicago cultural arts community, artists, as well as a host of distinguished community and business leaders to unveil four twenty-five foot bronze sculptures of various depictions of the Black music experience, in honor of the “Chicago Jazz & Blues Cultural Music District”.

Blues Icons Koko Taylor and Otis Clay, R&B legends Marshall Thompson and the Chi-Lites will be among the Chicago music luminaries participating in the unveiling at 12:00 noon with Alderman Tillman and Mayor Daley.

This historic area on Chicago’s south side is known throughout the world as a mecca of Black music. Some of the greats who have come from this legendary community include the ‘father of gospel music’ Thomas Dorsey, bluesmen Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, Inez Andrews, called ‘the high priestess of gospel’ and many others, including those who have launched their careers right on 47th Street.

“The unveiling of these statues is a historically significant event, as we continue to celebrate and reclaim our rich cultural heritage. We are pleased that these statues were created by one of the nation’s premiere artists, Ed Dwight, Jr., to honor our musical legacy, and to revitalize and preserve the tradition of 47th Street and King Drive as a main center of African American arts and culture for generations to come,” said Alderman Tillman.

The 25’ bronze masterpiece sculptures were designed by acclaimed African-American sculptural artist Ed Dwight, Jr., who also designed and sculpted the statue of the late Mayor Harold Washington, who dramatically graces the entrance of the Harold Washington Cultural Center cultural arts complex on the south east corner of 47th and King Drive. The statues depict a guitar player, a saxophone player, a trumpet player and a female jazz singer.

According to Mr. Dwight, “These four 25’ tall bronze statues will serve as permanent sentinels that protect the rich history and legacy of the Chicago Blues District. These are also a tribute to every Blues and Jazz musician that has ever, and will ever perform in the Bronzeville area.” There was also an exciting program; musical entertainment by the Vance Kelly band, and invited guests Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, Cook County Commissioner and R&B legend, the Dells, Herb Kent, the Mayor of Bronzeville and radio legend, and many other Chicago music artists were also in attendance. The highlight of the program was the unveiling of the soaring, grand bronze sculptures, which will serve as the official gateway to the 47th Street Chicago Jazz & Blues Cultural Music District.

This event for the “Chicago Jazz and Blues Cultural District”, which is free and open to the public, is another component of the transformation of 47th Street into an important destination in the city arts scene. The soaring edifices complement the Harold Washington Cultural Center, the cultural arts education and entertainment facility which is the first of many milestones related to Tillman’s vision of creating a diverse array of multi-dimensional, neighborhood revitalization and economic development initiatives. The cultural center’s mission, operated by executive director Jimalita Tillman and her staff, is to preserve and protect African-American culture and history.

The public is invited to attend and showed up in significant numbers, and everyone who loves the arts, music and Chicago culture was invited to join in the gala festivities.

For more information on this event, call Alderman Tillman’s office at 773 – 373 - 3228.

Contact: Andrea Smith, 312 – 720 – 2965

Ebony Tillman, 773 – 373 – 3228

******

Chicago Defender:
47th Street rejoices as bronze, blues sculptures are unveiled

By Alphonzo Stein

August 1, 2005

As Alderman Dorothy Tillman (3rd) imagined it, Friday’s unveiling of four, 25-foot bronze sculptures celebrating blues history had at least two witnesses from Heaven: God and Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor.

“Twenty-one years ago, (Harold Washington and I) talked about taking 47th Street and making it part of our culture, and using our culture to build our economics,” said Tillman, adding that Washington’s successors, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley, continued this vision for 47th and King Drive, historically known as Chicago’s Blues District.

The sculptures feature a guitarist, vocalist, saxophonist, and trumpeter.† They were created by Ed Dwight Jr., whose first sculpture on 47th Street – a replica of Harold Washington’s bust – is displayed outside the Harold Washington Cultural Center (HWCC), 4701 S. King Drive.††

One of four blues sculptures unveiled at 47th and King Dr.
Defender/Roland S. Martin

“The (four) sculptures…are non-descriptive. I didn’t want to put real people up there, because I’d be catching hell from all these guys,” said Dwight, speaking of the many performers in attendance, including the Chi-Lites, Gene Chandler, Otis Clay, Inez Andrews, Koko Taylor and Jerry Butler, also a Cook County commissioner.

“I generally don’t do abstract, nonfigurative art, but we had a special challenge here on 47th to let people know that when they got to the Blues District, there was something here waiting for (them).

“(The sculptures) show well in the daytime,” he continued, “but at night…those cylinders are lit from the inside. So when you come by here at night, you really got something to see, and you know you’ve arrived.”

Dwight’s custom-made contributions, Tillman said, represent the Blues District’s continuing progress.

“We have a holistic plan for 47th Street, not only 47th Street, but our community. We always believed we should build a community to work in, play in and sleep in,” the alderman said, noting that the 47th Street Marketplace and Washington cultural center employs 150 people full- and part-time.
Music and art are positives for children, said Tillman, who plans to advocate their return to the schools. Understanding one’s culture, she added, is essential.

“(These sculptures) are not for myself; it’s not for those who are my age or older. It’s for our next generation,” she continued. “They say, ‘A person or people who understand their culture, a person who protects and respects their culture, will act civil.’ If you don’t understand your culture, you’re going to act like a fool.”

During his remarks, Daley noted how the sculptures honored the past – when Black people migrated to Chicago from the South – while understanding the present and looking to the future.

“That’s what we have to do whether it’s music, whether it’s churches, or anything else. That’s what the reflection is all about,” he said. “Today is a day of celebration. It’s a celebration of families of communities, and thanking their families for their sacrifices for what we have today.”

Jimalita Tillman, the alderman’s daughter and executive director of the Washington cultural center, noted how the Blues District’s rebirth proves that young people and “seasoned” citizens could produce something positive, while eliminating such divisive labels as “old school” and “new school.”

“In our community, we seem to say (‘old school’ and ‘new school’) oftentimes,” Tillman said. “What we’re doing here on 47th Street, in the Blues District, is showing that this is all unified.”

After the unveiling, onlookers discussed their appreciation while the Vance Kelly blues band played on.

“This is really something we thought we would never have,” said Mildred Mitchell, a Lake Meadows resident. “I’m so proud of Alderman Tillman and our mayor. I’m so glad that I’m able to be here.”

“This is very beautiful,” added Chesterfield resident William Howard. “Jazz and blues were created here in America, so we should make sure our young people know that Black people are the ones who made this music.”

Dwight is also going to create a sculpture park honoring blues history. Located across the street from 47th and King Drive, this project, he explained, would display actual artists and feature a lighted fountain.

His goal for this project is to cover blues history in its entirety.

“I’m allowed some play to tell the whole story of the blues from the beginning, starting with slavery and chain gangs and what caused the blues in the first place,” he said.“I go all the way through to the contemporary blues giants…I’ll be able to have some more visual expression and reality on that particular piece."

******

47th Street sculptures highlight 'Blues District'

By: Jeremy Adragna

The intersection of 47th Street and King Drive, the epicenter of the “Blues District,” will be a little bit brighter from now on. Last Friday, Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd) and a slew of supporters from musicians to politicians unveiled four new statues in honor of the musical form that Bronzeville is credited with creating—the blues.

Four mustard-colored cylinders emblazoned with musical instruments and musicians shaped out of bronze to play them will be lit up throughout the night commemorating the neighborhood’s history.
“When I first came to this community some 30 years ago, when the Regal Theater was standing, there was a lot of questions and a lot of doubt and very little hope about the future of this community,” said South Side developer Elzie Higgenbottom. “Today there’s nothing but hope, nothing but brightness. People of all stripes are coming into this community.”

The event, for which police cordoned off King Drive between 46th to 48th Streets for several hours, was held in the center of the intersection and brought out musical dignitaries like Koko Taylor, Herb Kent, Gene Chandler and the Chi-lites. Several sang Tillman’s praises, literally.

The statues were created by the same artist responsible for the sculpture of the late Mayor Harold Washington, Ed Dwight Jr., which stands at the same intersection outside the Harold Washington Cultural Center.

“I didn’t want to put actual people because I’d catch hell from these guys,” Dwight said. “We had a special challenge here to let the people know that when they got to the ‘Blues District’ there was something here waiting for you and some icons to show, ‘Look, I’ve arrived,”

The unveiling commemorated not only the intersection’s past but Tillman’s plans to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding it. She touted the emergence of several local businesses at the corner like the 47th Street Market Place, the Harold Washington Cultural Center and the 150 employees which they employ. Tillman said she hopes to make the neighborhood similar to other ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown, Greektown and Little Italy.

“We have a holistic vision for this community. We always believe you should build a community you can work in, you can play in and you can sleep in,” Tillman said.

The event also brought out politicians like Mayor Richard M. Daley, state Rep. Lou Jones (D-26) and state Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13).

“We have to tell every generation all about the history of 47th Street,” said Daley.

~ Courtesy of The Lakefront Outlook

******