Key Points:
- Chester I. Lewis Reflection Park in downtown Wichita is a finalist in an international art contest.
- Public votes will determine two winners of the People’s Choice awards.
- The park celebrates civil rights leader Chester I. Lewis and features unique artwork.
Chester I. Lewis Reflection Park in downtown Wichita is a finalist in an international contest that recognizes outstanding public art projects and everybody in the community has a chance to help it become a People’s Choice Award winner.
CODAawards is an annual celebration of the most exciting Art + Design projects from around the world. The CODAawards Top 100 are the highest rated projects.
The park has been selected by the CODAwards jury as one of the Top 100 outstanding projects. Public votes will determine two winners of the People’s Choice awards. Interested community members can log on to vote here. But do it soon – voting closes July 2. Winners will be announced at the end of August.
Chester I. Lewis Park, located just east of Market Street on East Douglas Ave., is the first government funded artwork in downtown Wichita that depicts the contributions of an African-American leader.
Ellamonique Baccus and Matthew Mazzotta were the artists for the park, which celebrates civil rights leader Chester I. Lewis (1929-1990). At the entrance of Chester I. Lewis Reflection Park, his words are etched in granite, challenging visitors “to be free from hypocrisy, shame and acquiescence” by putting “man and his condition at the center of our thoughts and deeds.”
The $700,000 public art project was commissioned by the Wichita Department of Parks and Recreation with LK Architecture handling the design. Project managers were Jana Erwin and Denise Peters. Contributors include House of Sharp, Del Norte Studio, Philip Baccus. Carla Eckels, Dr. Gretchen Eick, University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Library, and the Wichita Public Library.