Clue: Low profile | Sally Bjork
“Finally, another one that I recognize at first sight! … The Spirit of Ann Arbor,” says David Frye. It’s “the Charles McGee relief sculpture on the Carver-Gunn Building on Liberty St.,” writes Jeri Hollister. Christopher Pannier, Cathy Chow, and others offer landmarks placing it between TKWU and Pinball Pete’s. Or, as Ann Bieneman quips, “a few feet from last month.”
The artwork “was commissioned by John Carver, owner of the building,” writes Dave Bicknell. Perhaps “the dancing figures were created with Carver in mind as he was the owner of Chances Are, which became the Second Chance, which became the Nectarine Ballroom.” In a 2012 Ann Arbor News article, McGee attributed influence to “the ambience in [Ann Arbor], and the energy that goes through there,” specifically “the activity of the youth,” which he found energetic and beautiful.
“McGee was a much admired Detroit artist whose public work can still be seen near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Unity building near Capitol Park in downtown Detroit,” says U-M art history professor Rebecca Zurier, who teaches on public art in Detroit. “McGee [also] had strong ties to Washtenaw County,” offers David Karl, “teaching at the Ann Arbor Art Center as well as eighteen years at EMU.” This piece is “a wonderful representation for the spirit of our Ann Arbor,” he adds.
We received eleven entries in September, all correct. Our winner, Cathy Chow, will enjoy her $25 gift certificate at the Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library bookshop.
Use the I Spy image and hint below to identify the Ann Arbor location and send your entry to [email protected].
Clue: Look up, way up | Sally Bjork