Spirit of Solidarity
Spirit of Solidarity
Dedication and unveiling ceremony April 19, 2007
The monument is situated near the Ford Museum entrance on Pearl Street, the southern end of Ah-Nab-Awen Park.
The Sculpture
Roberto Chenlo has created the three bronze statues depicting the events and emotions surrounding the 1911 Furniture Workers Strike. The woman figure represents the wives of the workers who suffered through the hardships of the strike. The male figure wearing a hat waving his fist is the Dutch Protestant worker. The third figure represents the immigrant Slavic and German Catholic workers, enthusiastically waving his hat inviting people to join the movement. Noting the religious distinctions is important in that the owners used the religious differences to separate the workers, pitting them against each other. This division, the strikers overcame in 1911.
The three figures stand above a pond fed by cascading water. The surrounding wall is adorned with quotes from labor leaders. Four walkways lead to the sculpture each representing the Dutch, Polish, Lithuanian, and German workers who united for the strike. The setting was designed by Gregory H. Scott from Progressive AE.
The Artist
Roberto Chenlo was born in Argentina, but immigrated to the U. S. in 1969 to work for the John Widdicomb Furniture Company. Roberto eventually went into stone carving and marble works. Roberto now owns and operated Mantles and More, a company that provides handsome carving in wood, marble granite and stone for home and commercial uses. Although he has many of his works of art in businesses, schools and churches, this is his first public monument.
Executed by the Labor Heritage Society
Owen Bieber, Chairperson Emeritus
John Jay Egan, president
Don Oetman, vice-president
Lana Boldi, vice-president
John Nagelhout, treasurer
Jola Stone, secretary
Michael Johnston, executive director
Trustees: Bruce Harvey, George Andros, Don Oetman, Father Dick Host, Chuck Bocskey, Frank Musto, Mike Lane, Deb Knooihuisen, Steve Austin, George Hendricks, Sue Levy, Mark Davis, Lana Boldi, Jennie Chatman, Jim Patch, Tim Caron, Scott Barton
David E. Hulswit, Jr PLC, Legal Counsel
Edgar Kettle, public affairs
Gregory H. Scott, landscape architect, Progressive AE
Roberto Chenlo, sculptor
IMAGES FROM THE DAY
A re-enactment of furniture workers walking off the job
Michael Johnston continues the re-enactment by reading the 1911 speech of an Irish union organizer, encouraging the strikers.
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Mayor George Heartwell quotes from Jeffrey Kleiman's book Strike! on the historical significance of the 1911 strike.
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State Representative
Michael Sak, with Marty Allen (friend of President
Gerald R. Ford,
Monument Campaign Chairperson Emeritus) and Owen Bieber.
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Originally from Grand Rapids, Owen Bieber is the former president of the United Auto Workers. He was Monument Campaign Chairperson Emeritus along with the other president from
Grand Rapids,
Gerald R. Ford.
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THE MONUMENT
One of the quotes etched in the wall surrounding the monument.
